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initiate

[verb ih-nish-ee-eyt; adjective, noun ih-nish-ee-it, -eyt]
verb (used with object), in·i·ti·at·ed, in·i·ti·at·ing.
  1. to begin, set going, or originate: to initiate major social reforms.
  2. to introduce into the knowledge of some art or subject.
  3. to admit or accept with formal rites into an organization or group, secret knowledge, adult society, etc.
  4. to propose (a measure) by initiative procedure: to initiate a constitutional amendment.
adjective
  1. initiated; begun.
  2. admitted into an organizaton or group, secret knowledge, etc.
  3. introduced to the knowledge of a subject.
noun
  1. a person who has been initiated.

Origin of initiate

1595–1605; < Latin initiātus past participle of initiāre, equivalent to initi(um) (see initial) + -ātus -ate1
Related formsin·i·ti·a·tor, nounnon·in·i·ti·ate, nounpre·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, nounqua·si-in·i·ti·at·ed, adjectivere·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, adjectiveun·in·i·ti·at·ed, adjectivewell-in·i·ti·at·ed, adjective

Synonyms for initiate

1. commence; introduce, inaugurate, open. 2. teach, instruct, indoctrinate, train.

Synonym study

1. See begin.

Antonyms for initiate

1. conclude.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for reinitiate

initiate

verb (ɪˈnɪʃɪˌeɪt) (tr)
  1. to begin or originate
  2. to accept (new members) into an organization such as a club, through often secret ceremonies
  3. to teach fundamentals toshe initiated him into the ballet
adjective (ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)
  1. initiated; begun
noun (ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)
  1. a person who has been initiated, esp recently
  2. 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
Word Origin and History for reinitiate

initiate

n.

"one who has been initiated," 1811, from past participle adjective initiate (c.1600); see initiate (v.).

initiate

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper