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Initial vs Indigenous - What's the difference?

initial | indigenous | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between initial and indigenous

is that initial is chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin while indigenous is born or engendered in, native to a land or region, especially before an intrusion.

As a noun initial

is the first letter of a word or a name.

As a verb initial

is to sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.

initial

Adjective

(-)
  • Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
  • :
  • :
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}
  • Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial , a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.
  • Synonyms

    * incipient * opening

    Antonyms

    * final

    Derived terms

    * initially * initialness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The first letter of a word or a name.
  • In plural, 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.
  • (typesetting, calligraphy) A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
  • (phonology) onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.
  • Synonyms

    * drop cap, versal

    Derived terms

    * initialism * initial teaching alphabet

    Verb

  • To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
  • Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom.

    See also

    * middle

    indigenous

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (chiefly, of living things) Born or engendered in, native to a land or region, especially before an intrusion.
  • * 1862 , , "Wild Apples: The History of the Apple Tree":
  • Not only the Indian, but many indigenous insects, birds, and quadrupeds, welcomed the apple-tree to these shores.
  • Innate, inborn.
  • * 1852 , , Uncle Tom's Cabin , ch. 18:
  • She was a native and essential cook, as much as Aunt Chloe,—cooking being an indigenous talent of the African race.
  • * 1883 , , "Stephen Archer" in Stephen Archer and Other Tales :
  • He had all the tricks of a newspaper boy indigenous in him.

    Synonyms

    * (born or engendered in) aboriginal, autochthonous, native

    Derived terms

    * indigenity * indigenously * indigenousness * nonindigenous