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Commence

Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Black's Law Dictionary

To commence a suit is to demand something by the institution of process in a court of justice.

Cohens v. Virginia, 6 Wheat. 408, 5 In Ed. 257.

To "bring" a suit is an equivalent term; an action is "commenced" when it is "brought," and vice versa.

Goldenberg v. Murphy, 108 In S. 162, 2 Sup. Ct 388, 27 I Ed. 686.