What do the words ab initio mean?

"Ab initio" is a Latin phrase that means "from the beginning" or "from the start". It implies that something is being considered in its entirety, without any pre-existing conditions or assumptions.

Here are some examples of how "ab initio" is used:

* Legal: A case dismissed ab initio is considered invalid from the start.

* Science: Ab initio calculations are theoretical calculations that start with fundamental physical principles without any empirical data.

* General: "We need to start this project ab initio, as the previous plan was flawed."

The phrase emphasizes a fresh start and a complete re-evaluation.