Final answer:
The correct answer is option c. In the context provided, the word "launch" most nearly means 'start', as it implies the beginning of an action or event without formal or forceful connotations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word "launch" as used in line 14 can have several meanings depending on the context in which it is used. However, when looking at the options provided: initiate, propel, start, and cast, we can narrow down the most fitting definition.
Propel generally suggests a forceful or driving motion, often physical, and cast tends to mean to throw or send something forcefully in a specific direction. Both of these are more active and directed than launch often implies. On the other hand, initiate and start carry a sense of beginning something, but initiate is more formal and is often used in reference to a process or sequence of events, while start tends to be broader and less formal.
Considering these nuances, the meaning of "launch" in this context is most nearly synonymous with c. start, as it implies the beginning of an action or event, but without the formal undertone that initiate conveys, or the physical force indicated by propel and cast.