inaugurate

inaugurate
    v 1: commence officially [syn: {inaugurate}, {kick off}]
    2: open ceremoniously or dedicate formally
    3: be a precursor of; "The fall of the Berlin Wall ushered in
       the post-Cold War period" [syn: {inaugurate}, {usher in},
       {introduce}]
    

Inaugurate \In*au"gu*rate\, 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.
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Inaugurate \In*au"gu*rate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Inaugurated};
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Inaugurating}.]
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   1. 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.
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   2. 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.
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            As if kings did choose remarkable days to inaugurate
            their favors.                         --Sir H.
                                                  Wotton.
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   3. To celebrate the completion of, or the first public use
      of; to dedicate, as a statue. [Colloq.]
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   4. To begin with good omens. [Obs.] --Sir H. Wotton.
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87 Moby Thesaurus words for "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