ichidan verb
begin to love; fall in love
Literary or poetic verb for the onset of romantic love. In everyday speech, 好きになる or 恋に落ちる are more common.
彼女はその詩人に恋い初めた。
She began to love the poet.
春の日に、ふと隣人に恋い初
On a spring day, one may suddenly begin to love a neighbor.