initiate [verb ih-nish -ee-eyt; adjective, noun ih-nish -ee-it, -eyt]
Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for initiate on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), in·i·ti·at·ed, in·i·ti·at·ing. to begin, set going, or originate: to initiate major social reforms. to introduce into the knowledge of some art or subject. to admit or accept with formal rites into an organization or group, secret knowledge, adult society, etc. to propose (a measure) by initiative procedure: to initiate a constitutional amendment. Show More
initiated; begun. admitted into an organizaton or group, secret knowledge, etc. introduced to the knowledge of a subject. Show More
a person who has been initiated. Show More
Origin of initiate 1595–1605; <
Latin initiātus past participle of
initiāre, equivalent to
initi(um ) (see
initial ) +
-ātus -ate1 Related forms in·i·ti·a·tor , noun non·in·i·ti·ate , noun pre·in·i·ti·ate , verb (used with object), pre·in·i·ti·at·ed, pre·in·i·ti·at·ing. pre·in·i·ti·ate , noun qua·si-in·i·ti·at·ed , adjective re·in·i·ti·ate , verb (used with object), re·in·i·ti·at·ed, re·in·i·ti·at·ing. un·in·i·ti·ate , adjective un·in·i·ti·at·ed , adjective well-in·i·ti·at·ed , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for initiate begin ,
launch ,
institute ,
trigger ,
inaugurate ,
open ,
commence ,
introduce ,
invest ,
originate ,
pioneer ,
admit ,
install ,
enter ,
induct ,
intro ,
familiarize ,
coach ,
edify ,
indoctrinate Examples from the Web for initiate Contemporary Examples of initiate The feminist movement has encouraged women that they can initiate romantic relationships, too.
“Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology,” he wrote.
Men need to step up and have this discussion, and not rely on women to initiate and lead it.
Initiate a dialogue about how we are all kind of like little people, if you think about it, at least compared to the One Percent.
They can initiate ideas and catalyze a certain form, but the trick is not to begin, but to sustain.
Historical Examples of initiate What they meant was not for the profane, or even for the initiate .
It is mine to initiate you into the highly respectable mysteries.
No guide-book ever can initiate you into the atmosphere of a city like Prague.
The Senate, however, cannot initiate a treaty, the President alone can do that.
So then we began to initiate the plan of the new expedition.
British Dictionary definitions for initiate to begin or originate to accept (new members) into an organization such as a club, through often secret ceremonies to teach fundamentals to she initiated him into the ballet Show More
adjective (ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt , -ˌeɪt ) initiated; begun Show More
a person who has been initiated, esp recently a beginner; novice Show More
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
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Word Origin and History for initiate n. "one who has been initiated," 1811, from past participle adjective initiate (c.1600); see initiate (v.).
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v. c.1600, "introduce to some practice or system," also "begin, set going," from Latin initiatus , past participle of initiare "to begin, originate," from initium "beginning" (see initial ). In some senses a back-formation from initiation . Related: Initiated ; initiates ; initiating ; initiator .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
