Adjacent Words

Initiation definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INITIA'TION, n. [L. initiatio.] The act or process of introducing one into a new society, by instructing him in its principles, rules or ceremonies; as, too initiate a person into a christian community.
1. The act or process of making one acquainted with principles before unknown.
2. Admission by application of ceremonies or use of symbols; as, to initiate one into the visible church by baptism.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a formal entry into an organization or position or office; "his initiation into the club"; "he was ordered to report for induction into the army"; "he gave a speech as part of his installation into the hall of fame" [syn: initiation, induction, installation]
2: the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new; "she looked forward to her initiation as an adult"; "the foundation of a new scientific society" [syn: initiation, founding, foundation, institution, origination, creation, innovation, introduction, instauration]
3: wisdom as evidenced by the possession of knowledge; "his knowledgeability impressed me"; "his dullness was due to lack of initiation" [syn: knowledgeability, knowledgeableness, initiation]
4: an act that sets in motion some course of events [syn: trigger, induction, initiation]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 1583 1. a. the act or an instance of initiating b. the process of being initiated c. the rites, ceremonies, ordeals, or instructions with which one is made a member of a sect or society or is invested with a particular function or status 2. the condition of being initiated into some experience or sphere of activity ; knowledgeableness

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Initiation In*i`ti*a"tion, n. [L. initiatio: cf. F. initiation.] 1. The act of initiating, or the process of being initiated or introduced; as, initiation into a society, into business, literature, etc. ``The initiation of coursers of events.'' --Pope. 2. The form or ceremony by which a person is introduced into any society; mode of entrance into an organized body; especially, the rite of admission into a secret society or order. Silence is the first thing that is taught us at our initiation into sacred mysteries. --Broome.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(initiations) 1. The initiation of something is the starting of it. They announced the initiation of a rural development programme... N-UNCOUNT: usu the N of n 2. Someone's initiation into a particular group is the act or process by which they officially become a member, often involving special ceremonies. This was my initiation into the peace movement. N-VAR: oft N into n, N n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Introduction, admission, entrance. 2. Instruction, indoctrination. 3. Beginning, inauguration, commencement, opening.

Moby Thesaurus

abecedarium, abecedary, acceptance, admission, admittance, anchorage, and arithmetic, baccalaureate service, baptism, beginning, celebration, ceremonial, ceremony, colonization, coming out, commencement, convocation, curtain raiser, debut, elementary education, elements, embarkation, embarkment, empty formality, enlistment, enrollment, entrance, establishment, exercise, exercises, first appearance, first steps, fixation, floating, flotation, formal, formality, foundation, function, graduation, graduation exercises, hornbook, immission, inaugural, inaugural address, inauguration, inception, induction, installation, installment, instatement, institution, introduction, intromission, investiture, launching, liturgy, lodgment, maiden speech, mooring, mummery, observance, office, opener, ordination, origination, peopling, performance, plantation, population, preliminary, primer, propaedeutic, reading, religious ceremony, rite, rite de passage, rite of passage, ritual, rudiments, service, settlement, settling, solemnity, solemnization, unveiling, writing