Inaugurating

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The formal act of beginning or establishing something significant
2. To officially start or introduce a new institution, system, or period
3. The act of formally marking the commencement of an event or function

Etymology: The Romans read the future in the sky. An augur watched how birds flew, and a magistrate could only begin a public act once the omens were favourable. To take up an office or found a building under those signs was "inaugurare", and a king or priest who had been properly installed was described as "inauguratus", the participle from which English draws its word. English took the verb from French "inaugurer", which itself came from Latin "inaugurare". The Latin root joins "in-" with "augurare", to interpret omens, and "augur" is the soothsayer whose job was to read the birds. The ending "-ate" was added in English, possibly through a direct borrowing of the Latin participle, so the word kept its ceremonial sense: a formal beginning sealed by signs from above. The verb's ceremonial sense is still the everyday one. A bridge, a museum or a president is inaugurated in a public ceremony, which is the same idea the augurs had in mind two thousand years ago.

Synonyms: initiating, commencing, opening, launching, establishing

Antonyms: concluding, ending, terminating, finishing, closing