inaugurate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: in=au=gu=rate

CIDE DICTIONARY

inaugurate, a. [L. inauguratus, p. p. of inaugurare to take omens from the flight of birds (before entering upon any important undertaking); hence, to consecrate, inaugurate, or install, with such divination; pref. in- in + augurare, augurari, to augur. See Augur.].

 Invested with office; inaugurated.  Drayton.  [1913 Webster]

inaugurate, v. t. 

•  To introduce or induct into an office with suitable ceremonies or solemnities; to invest with power or authority in a formal manner; to install; as, to inaugurate a president; to inaugurate a king.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause to begin, esp. with formality or solemn ceremony; hence, to set in motion, action, or progress; to initiate; -- used especially of something of dignity or worth or public concern; as, to inaugurate a new era of things, new methods, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "As if kings did choose remarkable days to inaugurate their favors."  [1913 Webster]
•  To celebrate the completion of, or the first public use of; to dedicate, as a statue.  [1913 Webster]
•  To begin with good omens.  Sir H. Wotton.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

inaugurate, v.tr.
1 admit (a person) formally to office.
2 initiate the public use of (a building etc.).
3 begin, introduce.
4 enter with ceremony upon (an undertaking etc.).

Derivative

inauguration n. inaugurator n. inauguratory adj.

Etymology

L inaugurare (as IN-(2), augurare take omens: see AUGUR)

THESAURUS

inaugurate

anoint, author, bear, beget, breed, bring about, bring forth, bring to effect, bring to pass, bring up, broach, cause, chair, christen, coin, commence, conceive, constitute, create, crown, do, effect, effectuate, engender, enlist, enroll, enter, enthrone, establish, father, float, form, found, generate, gestate, get off, give birth to, give occasion to, give origin to, give rise to, incept, induct, initiate, innovate, install, instate, institute, introduce, invent, invest, jump off, kick off, launch, lift up, make, materialize, mint, neologize, neoterize, occasion, open, ordain, organize, originate, place, place in office, produce, put in, raise, realize, renew, renovate, ring in, set afloat, set agoing, set on foot, set up, sign on, sign up, sire, start, start going, start up, throne, turn on, usher in, work

ROGET THESAURUS

inaugurate

Beginning

VB begin, start, commence, conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise, enter upon, enter, set out, embark in, incept, initiate, launch, inaugurate, inchoate, rise, arise, originate, usher in, lead off, lead the way, take the lead, take the initiative, head, stand at the head, stand first, stand for, lay the foundations, found, set up, set on foot, agoing, set abroach, set the ball in motion, apply the match to a train, broach, open up, open the door to, get underway, set about, get to work, set to work, set to, make a beginning, make a start, handsel, take the first step, lay the first stone, cut the first turf, break ground, break the ice, break cover, pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon, open fire, open the ball, ventilate, air, undertake, come into existence, come into the world, make one's debut, take birth, burst forth, break out, spring up, spring forth, crop up, pop up, appear, materialize, begin at the beginning, begin ab ovo, begin again, begin de novo, start afresh, make a fresh start, take it from the top, shuffle the cards, reshuffle the cards, resume, recommence.

Commission

VB commission, delegate, depute, consign, assign, charge, intrust, entrust, commit, commit to the hands of, authorize, put in commission, accredit, engage, hire, bespeak, appoint, name, nominate, return, ordain, install, induct, inaugurate, swear in, invest, crown, enroll, enlist, give power of attorney to, employ, empower, set over, place over, send out, be commissioned, be accredited, represent, stand for, stand in the stead of, stand in the place of, stand in the shoes of.

Celebration

VB celebrate keep, signalize, do honor to, commemorate, solemnize, hallow, mark with a red letter, pledge, drink to, toast, hob and nob, inaugurate, install, chair, rejoice, kill the fatted calf, hold jubilee, roast an ox.