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 initiating 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 initiating Contemporary Examples of initiating It did not prove that Roosevelt was initiating an inevitable alliance against Nazism.
Also left unsaid by Wise: Goodell was not initiating a law enforcement investigation.
She easily speaks what she thinks and not with the intention of initiating a fight with someone or playing games.
Kerry is correct when he argues that Israel should be rewarded for initiating final status negotiations with the Palestinians.
The core aim was simple: to discourage Arabs from initiating hostile actions.
Historical Examples of initiating In initiating them into the mysteries of French cookery my sister was of great service.
Such was Jefferson's way of initiating the measures of the Administration.
This could not be done in the first initiating ordinance of the church,—circumcision.
He spoke as though he were initiating Roddy into a secret order.
In still other cases, earthquakes are the initiating cause of movement.
British Dictionary definitions for initiating 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 initiating 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
