---
title: initiate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «initiate» in the school dictionary: To initiate something is to start it or make it begin: initiate a conversation. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# initiate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** initiate, person, head teacher, Pupils, club, Grandpa · **What happens:** initiate, be, make, begin, join, allow · **To what, where:** something, it, conversation, someone, group, them

<!-- .vabout -->
«initiate» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [initiate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/initiate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To initiate something is to start it or make it begin: initiate a conversation.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:m1:1
# text = To initiate something is to start it or make it begin: initiate a conversation.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	initiate	initiate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	begin	begin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	initiate	initiate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **initiate** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | start *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **begin** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 5 | **initiate** | infinitive |  | a conversation |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conversation=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To initiate someone into a group is to let them join, often with a special ceremony.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:m2:1
# text = To initiate someone into a group is to let them join, often with a special ceremony.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	initiate	initiate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	ceremony	ceremony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **initiate** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  | a group |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | let *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **join** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with a special ceremony | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Patient with ceremony=Co-Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To initiate someone into something is to teach them the basics of it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:m3:1
# text = To initiate someone into something is to teach them the basics of it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	initiate	initiate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	teach	teach	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	iobj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	basics	basic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **initiate** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  | something |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  | them *= they* |  |  | teach *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An initiate is a person who has just been allowed to join a group or learn its secrets.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:m4:1
# text = An initiate is a person who has just been allowed to join a group or learn its secrets.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	initiate	initiate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
17	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	secrets	secret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a initiate | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **allow** | present · perfect · passive |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP S»: subject=Beneficiary clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **join** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* | a group |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent group=Patient |
| 4 | **learn** | infinitive | a person *not said here* | initiate's secrets |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head teacher initiated a new reading scheme.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:x1:1
# text = The head teacher initiated a new reading scheme.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	initiated	initiate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	scheme	scheme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **initiate** | past | the head teacher | a new reading scheme |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scheme=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who initiated the argument?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:x2:1
# text = Who initiated the argument?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	initiated	initiate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **initiate** | past |  | the argument |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent argument=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pupils can initiate a class project.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:x3:1
# text = Pupils can initiate a class project.
1	Pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	initiate	initiate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **initiate** | can | Pupils | a class project |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent project=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The club initiated new members with a funny song.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:x4:1
# text = The club initiated new members with a funny song.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	initiated	initiate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	members	member	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **initiate** | participle | the club *not said here* | new members |  |  |  | with a funny song | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent member=Patient with song=Instrument |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa initiated me into the secrets of fishing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:x5:1
# text = Grandpa initiated me into the secrets of fishing.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	initiated	initiate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	secrets	secret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	fishing	fishing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **initiate** | past | Grandpa | me |  | the secrets of fishing |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new initiates were nervous at their first meeting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:x6:1
# text = The new initiates were nervous at their first meeting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	initiates	initiate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the new initiates |  |  | initiates's first meeting |  | nervous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press the button to initiate the countdown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:x7:1
# text = Press the button to initiate the countdown.
1	Press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	button	button	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	initiate	initiate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	countdown	countdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | imperative | you *not said here* | the button |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent button=Theme |
| 2 | **initiate** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the countdown |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent countdown=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Uncle Remus initiates the Little Boy II.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initiate:x8:1
# text = Uncle Remus initiates the Little Boy II.
1	Uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Remus	Remus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	initiates	initiate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	Boy	Boy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	II	II	NUM	CD	NumForm=Roman|NumType=Card	6	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **initiate** | present | Uncle | the Little Boy |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boy=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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