begin, v.tr. & i.Tosaím; cuirim tús ar (obair, scéal, etc.).To begin at the beginning, tosú ag an tús. He began life as a ploughman, fear treafa a bhí ann i dtús a shaoil. Before winter begins, sula dtiocfaidh an geimhreadh. The day began badly, bhí tús an lae go dona. To begin to do sth., to begin doing sth., tosú ag déanamh ruda, ar rud a dhéanamh. She began to cry, thosaigh sí ag caoineadh; dhírigh sí, chrom sí, ar chaoineadh. He began to strike him, luigh sé ar é a bhualadh. He began by opening the window, an chéad rud a rinne sé an fhuinneog a oscailt. To begin with, i dtús báire; ar an gcéad ásc. Well begun is half done, dhá thrian cuidithe tosú; tús maith leath na hoibre.
F: We began to see daylight through that piece of work, (i) bhí an clabhsúr ag druidim linn ar an obair sin; (ii) bhí muid ag tosú ag fáil faonoscailte ar an obair sin.