initiatory

English

Etymology

From Latin initiāt-, past participial stem of initiō, +‎ -ory.[1] By surface analysis, initiate +‎ -ory.

Adjective

initiatory (comparative more initiatory, superlative most initiatory)

  1. Of or pertaining to initiation.
    • 1881 December 27, “City and County”, in Lewiston Evening Journal, 5 p.m. edition, volume XXI, Lewiston, Me., →OCLC, page [3], column 1:
      The Auburn Knights of Honor will present the mock exposé of the initiatory ceremonies, given last year by the Lewiston lodge with such rich success, with new and improved details, in their hall, some time next month.
  2. Inceptive, initial, inaugural or introductory.
    • 1652, George Herbert, A Priest to the Temple:
      some initiatory treatises in the law
    • 1815, John M. Mason, Essays on the Church of God:
      Two initiatory rites of the same general import cannot exist together.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

initiatory (plural initiatories)

  1. An introductory act or rite.

References

  1. ^ “initiatory, adj. and n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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