First language I rejected: Swahili finally embraced (7)

I believe the answer is:

initial

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'first' is the definition.
('initial' can be similar in meaning to 'first')

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for initial that I've seen before include "Sign" , "First letter of a name" , "Beginning - first letter" , "First letter (of a word)" , "subscribe, minimally" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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