Also bi-, bygyn(n)yng; 2–3 -unge. [f. BEGIN v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action or process of entering upon existence or upon action, or of bringing into existence; commencing, origination.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 289. As euch þing hefde beginnunge of his godlec.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 838. Þar þai biginning gan to tak.
c. 1400. Maundev., 316. Withouten begynnynge and withouten endynge.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, I. def. iii. 2. A line hath his beginning from a point.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard. (1618), 288. Maximilian then being come to Trent, to giue beginning to the warre.
1635. Swan, Spec. M. (1670), 17. The world … was not for everlasting, but took beginning.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. II. i. 171. The beginning of change, like the beginning of strife, is like the letting out of water.
b. viewed as a definite fact belonging to anything extended in time or space.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 18. Et te biginnunge of þe Venite.
c. 1530. R. Hilles, Comm.-pl. Bk. (1858), 140. All thyngs hath a begynyng.
1539. Taverner, Erasm. Prov., 9. The beginnynge is halfe the hole.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 21. Of a good begynnyng comth a good end.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., V. i. 111. That is the true beginning of our end.
1780. J. Harris, Philol. Enq. (1841), 421. A beginning is that, which nothing necessarily precedes, but which something naturally follows.
1836. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), IV. 99. As was shrewdly intimated, in respect of the question of Primogeniture this is only ‘the beginning of the end.’
2. The point of time at which anything begins; absol. the time when the universe began to be.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 81. Þis bitacneð þe world þet wes from biginnegge.
1388. Wyclif, Gen. i. 1. In the bigynnyng God made of nouȝt heuene and erthe.
1535. Coverdale, Hab. i. 12. Thou o Lorde … art from the begynnynge.
1611. Bible, 1 John ii. 13. Yee haue knowen him that is from the beginning.
1875. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., vi. (ed. 5), 77. Germany proclaims the era of A.D. 843 the beginning of her national existence.
3. That in which anything has its rise, or in which its origin is embodied; origin, source, fount.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 73. Þe shame þe þe man haueð of his sinne … is þe biginnigge of fremfulle sinbote.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 54. Biginnunge & rote of þis ilke reouðe.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Her., A j b. Adam the begynnyng of man kynde.
1611. Bible, Col. i. 18. The head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the first borne from the dead.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., II. i. (1838), 101. Thy true … Beginning and Father is in Heaven.
† b. A first cause, first principle. Obs.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, vi. 63. The Magies held three beginnings, whom … they called Oromaces, Mitris, and Ariminis, (that is to say) God, Minde, and Soule.
c. concr. The head or chief extremity.
1483. Cath. Angl., 26. Begynnynge, caput.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, IV. 62. The second Muscle begynneth at the same Tubercle … with a sharpe begynnyng.
4. The earliest or first part of any space of time, of a book, a journey, etc.
1297. R. Glouc., 399. In þe bygynnynge of Jule þys batayle was ydo.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 385. As Lyncolnyence saiþ in þe bygynnynge of his dictis.
1473. Warkw., Chron., 11. In the begynnynge of the moneth of Octobre.
1549. Bk. Com. Pr., 3rd Collect Grace. Who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day.
1611. Bible, Num. x. 10. In the beginnings of your monethes, ye shall blow with the trumpets ouer your burnt offerings.
1743. J. Morris, Serm., ii. 35. He explains himself in the begining of this chapter.
5. The initial or rudimentary stage; the earliest proceedings. Often in plur.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 83. Þerfore wurð here ende werse þene here biginninge.
1340. Ayenb., 72. Þane dyaþ þet is to be guoden begynnynge of liue.
1548. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Gal. 14. Vnder the grosse beginnynges of this worlde.
1611. Bible, Job viii. 7. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
1690. W. Walker, Idiom. Ang.-Lat., Pref. i. A considerable encrease to my beginnings.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. I. x. 132. Great fortunes acquired from small beginnings.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 39. The beginnings of confusion with us in England.
1876. Green, Short Hist., ix. § 1 (1882), 597. The beginnings of physical science were more slow and timid there.
† 6. An undertaking. Obs.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., III. xxiv. 192. In alle begynnynges and in all operacions the name of god ought to be called.
