inaugurate

Verb

inaugurate (third-person singular simple present inaugurates, present participle inaugurating, simple past and past participle inaugurated)

1. (transitive) To induct (someone) into a dignity or office with a formal ceremony.
   • […] Cn[aeus] Cornelius Dolabella vvas inaugurat or inſtalled king of the ſacrifices, in ſteed of Marcus Martius, vvho died tvvo yeares before.1600, T[itus] Livius [i.e., Livy], “[Book XXVII]”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Romane Historie […], London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 655
   • More to theyr proper Elements inaugurated none, / Than ſhee to hers by-paſſed, he to his poſſeſſed Throne.1606, William Warner, “The Fourteenth Booke. Chapter LXXXII.”, in A Continuance of Albions England: […], London: […] Felix Kyngston [and Richard Bradock?] for George Potter, […], →OCLC, page 344

   Synonyms:

   inaugur

2. (transitive) To dedicate (a building, monument, etc.) for public use by a formal ceremony.
   • On February 22nd, at an event […], Acciona, a Spanish conglomerate, is due to inaugurate a new power plant a few miles from Las Vegas.2008 February 21, “Solar energy: The power of concentration: A new type of power plant harnesses the sun—and taxpayers”, in The Economist, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the...
   • The Holy Father presided over a ceremony to inaugurate the 100th fountain in the Vatican Gardens behind St. Peter's Basilica on Monday morning.2010 July 5, “Pope inaugurates St. Joseph fountain, 100th in Vatican Gardens”, in Catholic News Agency
3. (transitive) To initiate or usher in (something, as a (significant) course of action, development, organization, or period of time) with a formal ceremony or in a ceremonious manner; also (loosely), to begin or commence (something); to start.
   • The sun!—he came up to be viewed; / And sky and sea made mighty room / To inaugurate the vision!1850, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “A Sabbath Morning at Sea”, in Poems. […], new edition, volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, stanza V, page 326
   • Had Mr. Sunley performed the same experiment on the mainland, where people would have flocked to him for the wages he now gives, he would certainly have inaugurated a new era on the East Coast of Africa.1865, David Livingstone, Charles Livingstone, chapter XXI, in Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries; and of the Discovery of the Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa. 1858–1864, London...

   Synonyms:

   handsel

4. (archaic, rare, transitive) To cause (something) to be auspicious or good-omened; also, to declare or make (something) holy; to consecrate, to sanctify.
   • About Nevvyeers-tide after his return from thence (for thoſe beginnings of years vvere very propitious unto him, as if Kings did chuſe remarkable dayes to inaugurate their favours, that they may appeare acts aſvvell of the Times, as of the VVill) he vvas Created Marqueſs of Buckingham, and made...a. 1639 (date written), Henry Wotton, “A View of the Life and Death of Geo[rge] Villiers, Duke of Buckingham”, in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ. Or, A Collection of Lives, Letters, Poems; […], London: […]...
   • The Osiris N inaugurateth the paths of Rā and prayeth that he may drive off the Lock which cometh out of the flame against thy Bark out of the great Stream.1897 February 2, P[eter] le Page Renouf, “Book of the Dead. [Chapter CXXX. A Book whereby the Soul is Made to Live for ever, on the Day of Entering into the Bark of Rā, and to Pass the Sheniu of the...

   Synonyms:

   auspicate, avow, behallow, bless, canonize, consecrate, dedicate, hallow, martyr, sacralize

   Antonyms:

   corrupt, defile, desecrate, profanate, profane, profanize, pollute, sully, tarnish, violate

Adjective

UK/ɪˈnɔːɡjʊ.ɹət/US/ɪˈnɔ.ɡjə.ɹet/

inaugurate (not comparable)

1. (obsolete, transitive) Inducted into a dignity or office with a formal ceremony or in a ceremonious manner; inaugurated.
   • [T]he raising up of Jesus, signifies the new state, to which Christ was inaugurate at His resurrection, and contains under it all the severals of ascension, of sitting at the right hand of power, of the mission of the Holy Ghost, and His powerful intercession for us in heaven ever since, and to the...1644, Henry Hammond, “Sermon IX. Being an Easter Sermon at St. Mary’s in Oxford, a.d. 1644. The Blessing Influence of Christ’s Resurrection.”, in Thirty-one Sermons Preached on Several Occasions...