Question

Given below is a foreign language phrase that is commonly used. Choose the correct meaning of the phrase
Ab initio
a. from the very beginning
b. high initiative
c. things done later
d. without initiative

Answer 1

Hint: The correct option for ‘ab initio’ is the group of words which directly translates into English. ‘Ab’ is a Latin preposition whereas ‘Initio’ stands for ‘Initial’.
Example: You’ll need to take this project ab initio since the previous person working on it has left without notes.

Complete step by step answer:
Option a – from the very beginning:
‘From’ is a preposition that translates to ‘ab’ in Latin. Initial stands for beginning which then translates to ‘Initio’. The ‘ab initio’, therefore, would mean ‘from the beginning’.
Example: (i) Start working on the notes ab initio (from the very beginning). The previously submitted ones don’t comply with quality standards. (Prepare the notes from the beginning).
(ii) The judge kept the hearing ab initio, since the previous evidence was falsified. (Judge ordered the hearing of a case from the beginning).
(iii) The ab initio financial calculations surprisingly match with the post-audit data. (the calculations done in the beginning match the data taken/received after audit or careful investigation).
Option b – high initiative:
High translates to ‘altum’ or ‘princeps’ in Latin whereas initiative translates to ‘marte’. Thus, it doesn’t translate anywhere closer to ‘ab initio’. .
Option c – things done later:
There is no preposition used in this sentence whereas ‘ab’ is a preposition. Also, ‘initio’ means ‘initial’; hence later is inappropriate here. Therefore, this option doesn’t translate to ‘ab initio’.
Option d – without initiative:
Initiative, as discussed in option b, translates to ‘marte’. Therefore it translates as ‘sine marte’ and not ‘ab initio’.

Thus, the correct translation for ‘ab initio’ is option a – ‘from the very beginning’.

Note:
All the other three options i.e. option b, c and d don’t even have a preposition hence ‘ab’ is missing from all the other translation. English has its roots in Latin and most words from Latin have been included in English with minor changes. Here ‘initio = initial’ which stands for the beginning or starting point.