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Added 9 October 2026

initiative

/ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.tɪv/ noun

Latin root: initiare Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about initiative at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Readiness to embark on bold new ventures.
The first of a series of actions.

adjective

Serving to set in motion.
the magazine's inaugural issue

Origin

From French initiative, from Medieval Latin *initiativus (“serving to initiate”), from Late Latin initiare (“to begin, to initiate”), from Latin initium (“beginning”), from ineo (“enter, begin”). By surface analysis, initiate + -ive.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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