In*i"tial (?), a. [L. initialis, from initium a going in, entrance, beginning, fr. inire to go into, to enter, begin; pref. in- in + ire to go: cf. F. initial. See Issue, and cf. Commence.]

1. Of or pertaining to the beginning; marking the commencement; incipient; commencing; as, the initial symptoms of a disease.

2. Placed at the beginning; standing at the head, as of a list or series; as, the initial letters of a name.

In*i"tial, n. The first letter of a word or a name.

In*i"tial, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Initialed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Initialing.] To put an initial to; to mark with an initial of initials. [R.]

• first; of or pertaining to the beginning
       My initial guess turned out to be wrong.
  
• Placed at the beginning, as of a list or series.
  
• The first letter of a word or a name.
  
• The first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit
       You can get your initials printed at the top.
  
• To sign one's initials.
       Please initial each page and sign the entire packet.