_initium capere; incipere ab aliqua re_—to begin with a thing.
_initium facere, ducere, sumere (alicuius rei)_—to commence a thing.
_ab exiguis initiis proficisci_—to start from small beginnings.
_parare_ with Inf.—to prepare to do a thing.
_aggredi ad aliquid faciendum_—to prepare to do a thing.
_incunabula_[1] _doctrinae_—the origin, first beginnings of learning.
_finem facere alicuius rei_—to finish, complete, fulfil, accomplish a
thing.
_finem imponere, afferre, constituere alicui rei_—to finish, complete,
fulfil, accomplish a thing.
_ad finem aliquid adducere_—to finish, complete, fulfil, accomplish a
thing.
_ad exitum aliquid perducere_—to finish, complete, fulfil, accomplish
a thing.
_finem habere_—to come to an end.
_aliquid (bene, prospere) succedit_ or _procedit_ (opp. _parum
procedere, non succedere_)—the matter progresses favourably, succeeds.
_eventum, exitum (felicem) habere_—to turn out (well); to result
(satisfactorily).
_quorsum haec res cadet_ or _evadet?_—what will be the issue, end,
consequence of the matter?
_ad irritum redigere aliquid_—to frustrate, nullify.
_res aliter cecidit ac putaveram_—the result has surprised me; I was
not prepared for this development.
_quid illo fiet?_—what will become of him?
_quid huic homini_ (also _hoc homine_) _faciam?_—what am I to do with
this fellow?
[1] _incunabula_ literally swaddling-clothes. _cunabula_, cradle, is
not used in this metaphorical sense except in post-Augustan Latin.