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Initial vs New - What's the difference?

initial | new |

As an adjective initial

is chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.

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.

As an interjection new is

mew, meow, miaow.

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

    new

    English

    (wikipedia new)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Recently made, or created.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-19, author=(Timothy Garton Ash)
  • , volume=189, issue=6, page=18, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Where Dr Pangloss meets Machiavelli , passage=Hidden behind thickets of acronyms and gorse bushes of detail, a new great game is under way across the globe. Some call it geoeconomics, but it's geopolitics too. The current power play consists of an extraordinary range of countries simultaneously sitting down to negotiate big free trade and investment agreements.}}
  • Additional; recently discovered.
  • Current or later, as opposed to former.
  • Used to distinguish something established more recently, named after something or some place previously existing.
  • In original condition; pristine; not previously worn or used.
  • Refreshed, reinvigorated, reformed.
  • Young.
  • Of recent origin; having taken place recently.
  • Strange, unfamiliar or not previously known.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-06, volume=408, issue=8843, page=68, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The rise of smart beta , passage=Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.}}
  • Recently arrived or appeared.
  • *
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage='Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.}}
  • Inexperienced or unaccustomed at some task.
  • (of a period of time) Next; about to begin or recently begun.
  • Synonyms

    * brand new, recent * recent * (current or later) current * brand new, brand spanking new, mint, pristine * born-again, reformed, refreshed, reinvigorated, revived * (young) young, newborn * (of recent origin) fresh * strange, unfamiliar * (recently arrived or appeared) novel, singular * brand new, green * See also

    Antonyms

    * ancient, dated, old * dated, old * (current or later) former, old * (distinguishing something established more recently) old * old, used, worn * old * (young) old * (of recent origin) original, previous * familiar, old * (recently arrived or appeared) established * accustomed, experienced, expert

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Newly (especially in composition).
  • new'''-born, '''new'''-formed, '''new'''-found, '''new -mown
  • As new; from scratch.
  • ''They are scraping the site clean to build new .

    Noun

    (-)
  • Things that are new.
  • Out with the old, in with the new .
  • (Australia) A kind of light beer.
  • See news.
  • Derived terms

    * anew * brand new * new- * newbie * newco * newie * newish * newling * newly * newlywed * newness * news, news- * Newspeak * renew * New Age * new broom * new chum * new-laid * new moon * new potato * New Testament * new town * new wave * New World * New Year * (New Amsterdam) * (New Australia) * New Brunswick * Newcastle * New Delhi * New England * Newfoundland * New Guinea * New Hampshire * New Holland * New Jersey * (Newmarket) * New Mexico * New Orleans * New South Wales * New York * New Zealand * what else is new * what's new

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To make new; to renew.
  • Statistics

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