commencement
/kəˈmensmənt/noun
1
- usu. in sing. the time, action, or process of beginning开始时间; 开始：
at the commencement of training
训练开始时
mass noun the date of commencement.开始日期。
1.1
- the first part or earliest stage开始部分; 初期：
the commencement of this chapter.
这一章的开头。
2
- N. Amer. a ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred on university or high-school students〈北美〉（大学或高中的）毕业典礼; 学位授予典礼：
as modifier a commencement address.毕业典礼上的致辞。
词源
Middle English: from Old French, from the verb commencier （see COMMENCE）.