initiate

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: in=i=ti=ate
• COUNT in NET: 1 in 1 verses (in OT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

initiate, v. t. [L. initiatus, p. p. of initiare to begin, fr. initium beginning. See Initial.].

•  To introduce by a first act; to make a beginning with; to set afoot; to originate; to commence; to begin or enter upon.  [1913 Webster]

  "How are changes of this sort to be initiated?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To acquaint with the beginnings; to instruct in the rudiments or principles; to introduce.  [1913 Webster]

  "Providence would only initiate mankind into the useful knowledge of her treasures, leaving the rest to employ our industry."  [1913 Webster]

  "To initiate his pupil into any part of learning, an ordinary skill in the governor is enough."  [1913 Webster]
•  To introduce into a society or organization; to confer membership on; especially, to admit to a secret order with mysterious rites or ceremonies.  [1913 Webster]

  "The Athenians believed that he who was initiated and instructed in the mysteries would obtain celestial honor after death."  [1913 Webster]

  "He was initiated into half a dozen clubs before he was one and twenty."  [1913 Webster]

initiate, v. i. 

 To do the first act; to perform the first rite; to take the initiative.  Pope.  [1913 Webster]

initiate, a. [L. initiatus, p. p.].

•  Unpracticed; untried; new.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  Begun; commenced; introduced to, or instructed in, the rudiments; newly admitted.  [1913 Webster]

  "To rise in science as in bliss,
  Initiate in the secrets of the skies."  [1913 Webster]

Initiate tenant by courtesy (Law), said of a husband who becomes such in his wife's estate of inheritance by the birth of a child, but whose estate is not consummated till the death of the wife. Mozley & W.

initiate, n. 

 One who is, or is to be, initiated.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

initiate, v., n., & adj.
--v.tr.
1 begin; set going; originate.
2 a (usu. foll. by into) admit (a person) into a society, an office, a secret, etc., esp. with a ritual. b (usu. foll. by in, into) instruct (a person) in science, art, etc.
--n. a person who has been newly initiated.
--adj. (of a person) newly initiated (an initiate member).

Derivative

initiation n. initiator n. initiatory adj.

Etymology

L initiare f. initium: see INITIAL

THESAURUS

initiate

Greek, abecedarian, accept, accomplished, activate, actuate, admit, affiliate, alphabetarian, apprentice, articled clerk, associate, at concert pitch, begin, beginner, belonger, boot, break ground, break the ice, bring up, broach, brother, card-carrier, card-carrying member, cardholder, career, catechumen, charter member, christen, clubber, clubman, clubwoman, coach, coached, commence, committeeman, comrade, conventioneer, conventioner, conventionist, conversant, create, debutant, drill, dues-paying member, enlist, enlistee, enroll, enrollee, enter, enter on, enter upon, entrant, establish, fellow, finished, fledgling, float, found, fraternity man, freshman, get going, get off, get under way, give rise to, greenhorn, guildsman, head, head up, honorary member, ignoramus, inaugurate, induct, inductee, initiated, insider, install, instate, instigate, institute, instruct, introduce, invent, invest, joiner, kick off, launch, lead, lead off, lead the way, life member, lift up, member, neophyte, new boy, newcomer, novice, novitiate, one of us, open, ordain, originate, pioneer, pledge, postulant, practiced, pre-educate, precede, prepared, primed, probationer, probationist, professional, raise, raw recruit, recruit, ring in, rookie, set agoing, set going, set in motion, set off, set on foot, set up, sign on, sign up, sister, skilled, socius, sorority girl, sorority woman, stand first, start, start going, start up, take in, take the initiative, take the lead, take the plunge, take up, teach, technical, tenderfoot, train, trained, trigger, turn on, tutor, tyro, usher in

ROGET THESAURUS

initiate

Beginning

VB begin, start, commence, conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise, enter upon, enter, set out, embark in, incept, initiate, launch, inaugurate, inchoate, rise, arise, originate, usher in, lead off, lead the way, take the lead, take the initiative, head, stand at the head, stand first, stand for, lay the foundations, found, set up, set on foot, agoing, set abroach, set the ball in motion, apply the match to a train, broach, open up, open the door to, get underway, set about, get to work, set to work, set to, make a beginning, make a start, handsel, take the first step, lay the first stone, cut the first turf, break ground, break the ice, break cover, pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon, open fire, open the ball, ventilate, air, undertake, come into existence, come into the world, make one's debut, take birth, burst forth, break out, spring up, spring forth, crop up, pop up, appear, materialize, begin at the beginning, begin ab ovo, begin again, begin de novo, start afresh, make a fresh start, take it from the top, shuffle the cards, reshuffle the cards, resume, recommence.

Teaching

VB teach, instruct, educate, edify, school, tutor, cram, prime, coach, enlighten, inculcate, indoctrinate, inoculate, infuse, instill, infix, ingraft, infiltrate, imbue, impregnate, implant, graft, sow the seeds of, disseminate, given an idea of, put up to, put in the way of, set right, sharpen the wits, enlarge the mind, give new ideas, open the eyes, bring forward, teach the young idea how to shoot, improve, expound, lecture, read a lesson, give a lesson, give a lecture, give a sermon, give a discourse, incept, hold forth, preach, sermonize, moralize, point a moral, train, discipline, bring up, bring up to, form, ground, prepare, qualify, drill, exercise, practice, habituate, familiarize with, nurture, drynurse, breed, rear, take in hand, break, break in, tame, preinstruct, initiate, inure, put to nurse, send to school, direct, guide, direct attention to, impress upon the mind, impress upon the memory, beat into, beat into the head, convince, book, workbook, exercise book, preach to the wise, teach one's grandmother to suck eggs, teach granny to suck eggs, preach to the converted.