[f. BEGIN v.1 + -ER1.]
1. One who begins; an originator, founder.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 436. Blessed bygynner of vch a grace.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., cxxxvii. 117. Of the whiche abbay he was begynner and foundour.
1547. Bauldwin, Mor. Philos. (Palfr. 1564), X. v. The most gracious and mighty beginner is God, which in the beginning created the world.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. i. 146. Where are the vile beginners of this Fray?
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 49. All the beginners of dynasties.
1863. (16 June) Bright, Amer., Sp., 130. The South, which was the beginner of the war.
2. spec. One beginning to learn; a novice, a tyro.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. xlv. (1634), 367. But young beginners.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 156 b. Suche that be vnlerned in religyon … as nouyces or yonge begynners.
1601. Holland, Pliny, VIII. xlviii. (R.). New beginners (namely, young souldiours, barristers, and fresh brides).
1780. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., vii. (R.). The very enumeration of its kinds is enough to frighten a beginner.
1807. Byron, Granta, xx. A band of raw beginners.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 139. For the use of the young beginner.
† 3. He who or that which goes or comes first, or takes the lead. Obs.
c. 1613. Rowlands, More Knaues, 35. Being set to dinner, A legge of mutton was the first beginner. Next he deuoured vp a loyne of veale.
