commencement

commencement
    n 1: the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got
         an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the
         man for her" [syn: {beginning}, {commencement}, {first},
         {outset}, {get-go}, {start}, {kickoff}, {starting time},
         {showtime}, {offset}] [ant: {end}, {ending}, {middle}]
    2: an academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred [syn:
       {commencement}, {commencement exercise}, {commencement
       ceremony}, {graduation}, {graduation exercise}]
    3: the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the
       beginning of negotiations" [syn: {beginning}, {start},
       {commencement}] [ant: {finish}, {finishing}]
    

Commencement \Com*mence"ment\, n. [F. commencement.]
   1. The first existence of anything; act or fact of
      commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start.
      [1913 Webster]

            The time of Henry VII. . . . nearly coincides with
            the commencement of what is termed "modern history."
                                                  --Hallam.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and
      universities upon students and others.
      [1913 Webster]
    

81 Moby Thesaurus words for "commencement":
      A, alpha, baccalaureate service, beginning, birth, blast-off,
      celebration, ceremonial, ceremony, conception, convocation,
      creation, cutting edge, dawn, dawning, derivation, edge,
      empty formality, establishment, exercise, exercises, flying start,
      formal, formality, foundation, fresh start, function, genesis,
      graduation, graduation exercises, grass roots, head, inaugural,
      inauguration, inception, initiation, institution, jump-off,
      kick-off, leading edge, liturgy, mummery, new departure,
      observance, office, oncoming, onset, opening, origin, original,
      origination, outbreak, outset, outstart, performance, provenience,
      radical, radix, religious ceremony, rise, rite, rite de passage,
      rite of passage, ritual, root, running start, send-off, service,
      setting in motion, setting-up, solemnity, solemnization, source,
      square one, start, start-off, starting point, stem, stock,
      take-off, taproot