initiative : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: initiative	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for initiative
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
initiative adj serving to set in motion; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage" Synonym(s): inaugural, initiative, initiatory, first, maiden n readiness to embark on bold new ventures [syn: enterprise, enterprisingness, initiative, go-ahead] the first of a series of actions Synonym(s): first step, initiative, opening move, opening
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Initiative \Ini"tia*tive\, a. [Cf. F. initiatif.] Serving to initiate; inceptive; initiatory; introductory; preliminary.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Initiative \Ini"tiative\, n. [Cf. F. initiative.] 1. An introductory step or movement; an act which originates or begins. The undeveloped initiatives of good things to come. --I. Taylor. 2. The right or power to introduce a new measure or course of action, as in legislation; as, the initiative* in respect to revenue bills is in the House of Representatives.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Initiative \Ini"tiative\, n. (Political Science) The right or procedure by which legislation may be introduced or enacted directly by the people, as in the Swiss Confederation and in many of the States of the United States; -- chiefly used with the. The procedure of the initiative* is essentially as follows: Upon the filing of a petition signed by a required number or percentage of qualified voters the desired measure must be submitted to a popular vote, and upon receiving the required majority (commonly a majority of those voting on the measure submitted) it becomes a law. In some States of the United States the initiative is only local; in others it is state-wide and includes the making of constitutional amendments.