initiate

present singular third person initiates · participle present initiating · participle past initiated · past initiated

1. transitiveTo begin; to start.

   How are changes of this sort to be initiated?

   1860, Isaac Taylor, “(please specify the page)”, in Ultimate Civilization and Other Essays, London: Bell and Daldy […], →OCLC

   5 more examples

   This is a very strong move, aptly timed. It initiates the tactical conception which routs Black's hopes.

   1961 February, Max Euwe, “How to Win in the Ending”, in Chess Review

   Indigenous people, such as agriculturists, hunters, and pastoralists initiated a system of totemism and tabooism which in essence was a natural law against killing and eating certain animals.

   1978, David Dhlalangami Maforo, Black-white Relations in Kenya Game Policy, page 5

   A U235 bomb would therefore need to incorporate a gun weighing ten tons. Then there was the question of initiating or triggering the bomb.

   2011, Jim Baggott, The First War of Physics, Pegasus Books, →ISBN

   Prior to firing the laser, a surgeon can preilluminate the area to be cut or ablated, enlarge or reduce the area, shape, or size, and then initiate the UV laser pulses for the actual ablation.

   2014, David L. Elliott, Ultraviolet Laser Technology and Applications, page 320

   With the exception of anelloviruses, bidnaviruses, spiraviruses, and some inoviruses, the replicative protein of ssDNA viruses is the so-called HUH endonuclease that cuts genomic DNA at a specific site and initiates rolling circle (or rolling hairpin) replication.

   2021 February 24, Encyclopedia of Virology, Academic Press, →ISBN, page 43

   Synonyms: commence, institute

2. transitiveTo instruct in the rudiments or principles; to introduce.

   to initiate his pupil in any part of learning

   1693, [John Locke], “§94”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   Divine Providence would only initiate and enter mankind into the useful knowledge of her, leaving the rest to employ our industry.

   1653, Henry More, An Antidote against Atheisme, or An Appeal to the Natural Faculties of the Minde of Man, whether There Be Not a God, London: […] Roger Daniel, […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: induct

3. transitiveTo confer membership on; especially, to admit to a secret order with mysterious rites or ceremonies.

   He was initiated into half a dozen clubs before he was one and twenty.

   1714 August 14 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “TUESDAY, August 4, 1714”, in The Spectator, number 576; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume VI, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC

   1 more example

   The Athenians believed that he who was initiated and instructed in the mysteries would obtain celestial honour after death.

   1738–1741, William Warburton, The Divine Legation of Moses […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II.1, or II.2), London: […] Fletcher Gyles, […], →OCLC

4. intransitiveTo 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.

   1725–1726, Homer, “Book 3”, in [William Broome, Elijah Fenton, Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC

plural 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.

   Antonyms: noninitiate, novice

comparative more initiate · superlative most initiate

1. obsoleteUnpracticed, untried, new.

   the initiate fear that wants hard use

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]

2. obsoleteBegun, commenced, introduced to or in the rudiments (of), newly admitted.

   To rise in science as in bliss, / Initiate in the secrets of the skies.

   1744, [Edward Young], “Night the Sixth. The Infidel Reclaim’d. In Two Parts. Containing, the Nature, Proof, and Importance of Immortality. Part the First. […]”, in The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley […], →OCLC, page 6