3. ini'tiate: in + it + (i)ate = to cause one to go in: hence, to introduce, to commence.
4. sedi'tion: sed (aside) + it + ion = the act of going aside; that is, going to a separate and insurrectionary party.
5. trans'it: trans + it = a passing across: hence, (1) the act of passing; (2) the line of passage; (3) a term in astronomy.
6. tran'sitory: trans + it + ory = passing over: hence, brief, fleeting.
EXERCISE.
(1.) Compose a sentence containing the word "ambition." MODEL: "Napoleon's ambition was his own greatness; Washington's, the greatness of his country."—What is meant by "military ambition"? "political ambition"? "literary ambition"?—What adjective means possessing ambition?—Combine and define un + ambitious.
(2.) What is the opposite of "initial"? Ans. Final, closing.—What part of speech is "initial" besides an adjective?—What is meant by "initials"?
(3.) What is meant by saying that "the campaign of 1775 was initiated by an attack on the British in Boston"?—Give the opposite of "initiate" in the sense of "commence."
(4.) Give a synonym of "sedition." Ans. Insurrection.—Give another.—Compose a sentence containing this word.
(5.) Explain what is meant by goods "in transit."—Explain what is meant by the "Nicaragua transit."—When you speak of the transit of Venus," you are using a term in what science?