Initiation \In*i`ti*a"tion\, n. [L. initiatio: cf. F. initiation.]

[1913 Webster]

1. The act of initiating, or the process of being initiated or introduced; as, initiation into a society, into business, literature, etc. "The initiation of courses of events." --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. The form or ceremony by which a person is introduced into any society; mode of entrance into an organized body; especially, the rite of admission into a secret society or order. [1913 Webster]

Silence is the first thing that is taught us at our initiation into sacred mysteries. --Broome. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

87 Moby Thesaurus words for "initiation": abecedarium, abecedary, acceptance, admission, admittance, anchorage, and arithmetic, baccalaureate service, baptism, beginning, celebration, ceremonial, ceremony, colonization, coming out, commencement, convocation, curtain raiser, debut, elementary education, elements, embarkation, embarkment, empty formality, enlistment, enrollment, entrance, establishment, exercise, exercises, first appearance, first steps, fixation, floating, flotation, formal, formality, foundation, function, graduation, graduation exercises, hornbook, immission, inaugural, inaugural address, inauguration, inception, induction, installation, installment, instatement, institution, introduction, intromission, investiture, launching, liturgy, lodgment, maiden speech, mooring, mummery, observance, office, opener, ordination, origination, peopling, performance, plantation, population, preliminary, primer, propaedeutic, reading, religious ceremony, rite, rite de passage, rite of passage, ritual, rudiments, service, settlement, settling, solemnity, solemnization, unveiling, writing

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

initiation

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Initiation \In*i`ti*a"tion\, n. [L. initiatio: cf. F. initiation.]

1. The act of initiating, or the process of being initiated or introduced; as, initiation into a society, into business, literature, etc. ``The initiation of coursers of events.'' --Pope.

2. The form or ceremony by which a person is introduced into any society; mode of entrance into an organized body; especially, the rite of admission into a secret society or order.

Silence is the first thing that is taught us at our initiation into sacred mysteries. --Broome.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)