Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Introductory; initial.
  • adjective Tending or used to initiate.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of, pertaining to, or suitable for a beginning or introduction; introductory: as, an initiatory step.
  • Initiating or serving to initiate; introducing by instruction, or by prescribed formalities.
  • noun An introductory process or form.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun rare An introductory act or rite.
  • adjective Suitable for an introduction or beginning; introductory; prefatory.
  • adjective Tending or serving to initiate; introducing by instruction, or by the use and application of symbols or ceremonies; elementary; rudimentary.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of or pertaining to initiation
  • adjective inceptive, initial, inaugural or introductory
  • noun An introductory act or rite.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective serving to set in motion

Etymologies

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Examples

  • But the really true virtue is a purification from all such things, and temperance, justice, fortitude and wisdom itself, are a kind of initiatory purification 38.

    Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates 427? BC-347? BC Plato

  • To that end, we have constructed our book, "Heart Yoga," as an initiatory journey into the vision of the Sacred Marriage that anyone with devotion, faith and the willingness to explore their inner experience can pursue.

    Andrew Harvey and Karuna Erickson: Heart Yoga: A Response to Today's Stress Andrew Harvey 2010

  • To that end, we have constructed our book, "Heart Yoga," as an initiatory journey into the vision of the Sacred Marriage that anyone with devotion, faith and the willingness to explore their inner experience can pursue.

    Andrew Harvey and Karuna Erickson: Heart Yoga: A Response to Today's Stress Andrew Harvey 2010

  • To that end, we have constructed our book, "Heart Yoga," as an initiatory journey into the vision of the Sacred Marriage that anyone with devotion, faith and the willingness to explore their inner experience can pursue.

    Andrew Harvey and Karuna Erickson: Heart Yoga: A Response to Today's Stress Andrew Harvey 2010

  • To that end, we have constructed our book, "Heart Yoga," as an initiatory journey into the vision of the Sacred Marriage that anyone with devotion, faith and the willingness to explore their inner experience can pursue.

    Andrew Harvey and Karuna Erickson: Heart Yoga: A Response to Today's Stress Andrew Harvey 2010

  • He added, “As if no man, after the war commenced, should call in question the consummate wisdom or purity of motive on the part of the Executive in the initiatory steps of that war!”

    A Country of Vast Designs Robert W. Merry 2009

  • He added, “As if no man, after the war commenced, should call in question the consummate wisdom or purity of motive on the part of the Executive in the initiatory steps of that war!”

    A Country of Vast Designs Robert W. Merry 2009

  • The situation reminds us a bit of Bill Clinton's initiatory fiasco, over homosexuals in the military.

    Trial and Error James Taranto 2010

  • The situation reminds us a bit of Bill Clinton's initiatory fiasco, over homosexuals in the military.

    Trial and Error James Taranto 2010

  • The situation reminds us a bit of Bill Clinton's initiatory fiasco, over homosexuals in the military.

    Trial and Error James Taranto 2010

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