[f. BEGIN v.1 + -ING2.]
1. That comes into existence or begins its course; incipient, commencing.
1576. Grindal, Custom & Ver., Wks. (1843), 72. The primitive and beginning church.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living (1727), 201. He helpt my slow and beginning endeavours.
1775. De Lolme, Eng. Constit., II. xvii. 293. He peaceably weathered the beginning storm.
1829. S. Turner, Mod. Hist. Eng., III. II. xviii. 540. [She] waited for her parliament to be the beginning innovators.
2. Coming first or in front; leading the way.
1609. Douland, Ornith. Microl., 40. Euery Beginning Note without a tayle, if the second Note ascend, is a Breefe.
Hence † Beginningly, Obs. in 4 begynandly, initially, at the beginning.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, cxviii. 152. Bigynandly . that was fra bigynynge of mannys kynd . i . knew that thou hight the kyngdome of heuen till thi lufers.
