initial

1. initial (adj) — sense 1

Definition: Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.

Example: Our initial admiration for their efficiency gave way to disgust about their methods.

2. initial (adj) — sense 2

Definition: Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.

Example: The initial letter of names is usually printed with a capital letter.

3. initial (noun) — sense 3

Definition: The first letter of a word or a name, especially of a person's full name (their initials).

Example: The point of interest about this particular specimen was that it must have remained intact for at least a quarter of a century, as it had embossed in the frosted glass the initials of the old Great North of Scotland Railway in the form of a scroll, the sort of relic of pre-grouping days that can still be found here and there if one is observant.

4. initial (noun) — sense 4

Definition: A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.

5. initial (noun) — sense 5

Definition: onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.

6. initial (verb) — sense 6

Definition: To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.

Example: Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom.