initiative

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adjective ini·tia·tive \i-ˈni-shə-tiv also -shē-ə-tiv\

Luther's daring initiative thoughts did indeed come from above, but he owed them to no man or age. —Junius B. Remensnyder, What the World Owes Luther, 1917
Many writers maintain that there is a rule of International Law forbidding the commencement of war without a declaration of war. But such rule, in fact, does not exist, for a great many wars take place without an initiative declaration of war. —Lassa Oppenheim, International Law, 1906

First Known Use: 1795

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noun ini·tia·tive \i-ˈni-shə-tiv also -shē-ə-tiv\

1 : an introductory step took the initiative in attempting to settle the issue
2 : energy or aptitude displayed in initiation of action : enterprise showed great initiative
3a : the right to initiate legislative actionb : a procedure enabling a specified number of voters by petition to propose a law and secure its submission to the electorate or to the legislature for approval — compare referendum 1

… on the day before their Club Med flight she took the initiative of telephoning Franco from work, ostensibly to tell him that she had really admired his new place … —John Barth, Atlantic, March 1995
Following initiatives begun before the First World War, thirty-four states instituted or expanded workers' compensation laws in the 1920s. —Mary Beth Norton et al., A People and a Nation, 1988
Since the social victim has been oppressed by society, he comes to feel that his individual life will be improved more by changes in society than by his own initiative. —Shelby Steele, Harper's, June 1988
If you want to meet her, you're going to have to take the initiative and introduce yourself.
The company has the opportunity to seize the initiative by getting its new products to the market before its competitors.
The governor has proposed a new initiative to improve conditions in urban schools.

First Known Use: 1793

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noun

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noun ini·tia·tive \i-ˈni-shə-tiv\

1 : a first step or movement I took the initiative and called first.
2 : energy shown in getting action started He's a person of great initiative.

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noun ini·tia·tive \i-ˈni-shə-tiv, -shē-ə-tiv\

1 : the especially introductory series of steps taken to cause a desired result the deposing party would ordinarily be required to take the initiative in arranging a deposition — Andrews v. Bradshaw, 895 P.2d 973 (1995)
2a : the right to initiate legislative action b : a procedure enabling a specified number of voters by petition to propose a law and secure its submission to the electorate or to the legislature for approval — see also referendum

: at one's own discretion : independently of outside influence, suggestion, or control the court may reduce a sentence on its own initiative — Ghrist v. People, 897 P.2d 809 (1995)