commencement

英 [k?'mensm(?)nt] 美[k?'m?nsm?nt]

CET6+GRE暢通詞匯

復(fù)數(shù):?commencements;

commencement 開始，畢業(yè)典禮

來(lái)自commence, 開始。引申義畢業(yè)典禮，人生的開始。

commencement (n.): late 13c., "beginning," from Old French comencement "beginning, start" (Modern French commencement), from comencier (see commence). Meaning "school graduation ceremony" attested by 1850, American English. (Sense "entrance upon the privileges of a master or doctor in a university" is from late 14c.)
I know what you are thinking of -- the class members grouped in a semicircle on the stage, the three scared boys in new ready-made black suits, the seventeen pretty girls in fluffy white dresses (the gowns of the year), each senior holding a ribbon-tied manuscript bulging with thoughts on "Beyond the Alps Lies Italy," "Our Ship is Launched -- Whither Shall it Sail?" and similar topics. [Charles Moreau Harger, "The Real Commencement," "New Outlook," May 8, 1909]

2. Would passengers please put out cigarettes before the commencement of the flight.: 請(qǐng)乘客在飛機(jī)起飛前熄滅香煙.

3. Who gave your commencement address?: 誰(shuí)給你們做了畢業(yè)演說(shuō)? oration指 “正式演說(shuō)”,如:

4. All applicants should be at least 16 years of age at the commencement of this course.: 申請(qǐng)修讀這門課程者至少要年滿16歲。

5. 'Commence,'was Monsieur Defarge's not unreasonable reply,'at the commencement.': “ 從開頭說(shuō)起, ” 德伐日的回答不無(wú)道理.