initiate

1. (transitive) To begin; to start.Examples: "How are changes of this sort to be initiated?"; "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."; "A U235 bomb would therefore need to incorporate a gun weighing ten tons. Then there was the question of initiating or triggering the bomb."Synonyms: commence, institute

2. (transitive) To instruct in the rudiments or principles; to introduce.Examples: "Divine Providence would only initiate and enter mankind into the useful knowledge of her, leaving the rest to employ our industry."; "to initiate his pupil in any part of learning"

3. (transitive) To confer membership on; especially, to admit to a secret order with mysterious rites or ceremonies.Examples: "The Athenians believed that he who was initiated and instructed in the mysteries would obtain celestial honour after death."; "He was initiated into half a dozen clubs before he was one and twenty."

4. (intransitive) To do the first act; to perform the first rite; to take the initiative.Examples: "The king himself initiates to the power; Scatters with quivering hand the sacred flour, And the stream sprinkles."