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initiate

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initiate¹

  • /ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/
  • /ɪˈnɪʃ.ɪ.eɪt/

Rhymes with -ɪʃieɪt

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Latin initiātus, perfect passive participle of initiō (“to begin, originate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from initium (“a beginning”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), from initus (“an entrance, coming in, approach”) + -ium, from ineō + -tus, from in- + eō (“to go”). Cognate with French initier.

verb initiates · initiating · initiated

  1. transitive To begin; to start. How are changes of this sort to be initiated?
  2. transitive To instruct in the rudiments or principles; to introduce. Divine Providence would only initiate and enter mankind into the useful knowledge of her, leaving the rest to employ our industry.
  3. transitive To confer membership on; especially, to admit to a secret order with mysterious rites or ceremonies. The Athenians believed that he who was initiated and instructed in the mysteries would obtain celestial honour after death.
  4. intransitive To do the first act; to perform the first rite; to take the initiative. The king himself initiates to the power; Scatters with quivering hand the sacred flour, And the stream sprinkles.

initiate²

  • /ɪˈnɪʃ.i.ət/
  • /ɪˈnɪʃ.ɪ.ət/

Where it comes from

From a substantivization of the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Cognate with French initié (“an initiate, neophyte”).

noun initiates

  1. A new member of an organization.
  2. One who has been through a ceremony of initiation.
  3. One who is oriented in and familiar with a topic or subject; especially, one who is an expert in it.

initiate³

  • /ɪˈnɪʃ.i.ət/
  • /ɪˈnɪʃ.ɪ.ət/

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Latin initiātus, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.

adjective more initiate · most initiate

  1. obsolete Unpracticed, untried, new. the initiate fear that wants hard use
  2. obsolete Begun, commenced, introduced to or in the rudiments (of), newly admitted. To rise in science as in bliss, / Initiate in the secrets of the skies.

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