▪ I. † iˈnaugurate, ppl. a. Obs.
Also 6 -at.
[ad. L. inaugurāt-us, pa. pple. of inaugurāre: see next.]
Inaugurated, ceremoniously or formally installed into office: see next, 1. (Const. as pa. pple.)
| 1600 Holland Livy xxvii. xxxvi. 655 Dolabella was inaugurat or installed king of the sacrifices. 1644 Hammond Serm. Christ's Resurr. Wks. 1683 IV. 529 The new state, to which Christ was inaugurate at his resurrection. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 533 That the consuls might be made and inaugurate. |
▪ II. inaugurate, v.
(ɪˈnɔːgjʊəreɪt)
[f. L. inaugurāt-, ppl. stem of inaugurāre to take omens from the flight of birds, to consecrate or install after taking such omens or auguries, f. in- (in-2) + augurāre to take auguries: see augur n. and v.]
1. trans. To admit or induct (a person) to an office or dignity by a formal ceremony; to consecrate, install, invest. Also with complement.
| 1606 Warner Alb. Eng. xiv. lxxxii. (1612) 344 More to their proper Elements inaugurated none, Than shee to hers by-passed, he to his possessed Throne. 1612 Drayton Poly-olb. xvii. 260 The seat on which her Kings inaugurated were. 1637–50 Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) 261 They behoved to be doctorated ere they were inaugurated bishops. 1708 Ockley Saracens (1848) 387 Yezid..was inaugurated Caliph on the new moon of the month Rejeb. 1786 Burns Let. to J. Kennedy Aug., I have..made my public appearance, and am solemnly inaugurated into the numerous class. 1825 Macaulay Ess., Milton (1851) I. 22 When Cromwell was inaugurated in Westminster Hall. |
† 2. To invest (a thing) with a sacred or supposed sacred character, etc. Obs.
| 1638 F. Junius Paint. Ancients 136 The inaugurated Statues..being set up by skilfull enchaunters in..the temple, or else secretly digged in the ground, were thought to appease..the Gods, and to protect the Country. Ibid. 137 The inaugurated statues, which now adays..are called Talisman. |
3. To make auspicious or of good augury; to confer solemnity or sanctity upon; to sanctify, consecrate. rare.
| a 1639 Wotton Life Dk. Buckhm. in Reliq. (1651) 79 Those beginnings of years were very propitious unto him, as if Kings did chuse remarkable dayes to inaugurate their favours, that they may appeare acts as well of the Times, as of the Will. 1847 R. W. Hamilton Disq. Sabbath i. (1848) 7 And now succeeds the Sabbath which inaugurates all these accomplishments,..as it perfects, illustrates, and glorifies the wondrous Hebdomade. |
4. ‘To begin with good omens’ (J.); to begin (a course of action, period of time, etc., esp. of an important character) with some formal ceremony or notable act; to commence, enter upon; to introduce, usher in; to initiate. (Sometimes merely grandiose for ‘begin’.)
| 1755 Johnson, To Inaugurate,..to begin with good omens, to begin. 1851 Gallenga Italy i. 22 The revolution was to be inaugurated without a single deed of violence to any Italian. a 1861 Mrs. Browning Sabbath Morn. at Sea v, And sky and heaven made mighty room To inaugurate the vision. 1865 Livingstone Zambesi xxi. 428 He would certainly have inaugurated a new era on the East Coast of Africa. 1876 Grant Burgh Sch. Scotl. ii. v. 159 The daily work of the school was inaugurated and generally concluded..with the ceremony of engaging publicly in prayer. |
5. To initiate the public use of, introduce into public use by a formal opening ceremony (a statue, fountain, building, etc.).
| [1838 Arnold Hist. Rome I. xiii. 237 The augurs were to attend in order to inaugurate the ground where the soldiers were to meet.] 1852 Ld. Cockburn Jrnl. (1874) II. 282 On the 18{supt}{suph} instant, Steell's equestrian Statue of the Duke of Wellington was inaugurated, as it is now the fashion to call such proceedings. 1861 Sat. Rev. 22 June 630 Then, why is everything ‘inaugurated’? It is silly enough to talk about the ‘inauguration’ of a new statue; but we have quite got beyond that. |
¶ Erroneously explained in early Dicts.
| 1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alph., Inaugurate, to aske counsell of soothsayers. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Inaugurate..to ask counsel of the Augures what shall follow, to dedicate to soothsaying. |