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initiate

[ verb ih-nish-ee-eyt; adjective, noun ih-nish-ee-it, -eyt ]
/ verb ɪˈnɪʃ iˌeɪt; adjective, noun ɪˈnɪʃ i ɪt, -ˌeɪt /
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See synonyms for: initiate / initiated / initiates / initiating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), in·i·ti·at·ed, in·i·ti·at·ing.
adjective
noun
a person who has been initiated.
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Origin of initiate

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin initiātus, past participle of initiāre “to ritually initiate, admit,” equivalent to initi(um) “beginning” + -ātus past participle suffix; see initial,-ate1

synonym study for initiate

1. See begin.

OTHER WORDS FROM initiate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use initiate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for initiate

initiate

verb (ɪˈnɪʃɪˌeɪt) (tr)
to begin or originate
to accept (new members) into an organization such as a club, through often secret ceremonies
to teach fundamentals toshe initiated him into the ballet
adjective (ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)
initiated; begun
noun (ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)
a person who has been initiated, esp recently
a beginner; novice

Word Origin for initiate

C17: from Latin initiāre (vb), from initium; see initial
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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