The word “inaugurate” has an interesting origin that takes us back to ancient Rome. While today it means to begin or introduce something or to officially admit someone into public office, its roots are quite prophetic.
In Rome, the Latin word “avis,” meaning bird, combined with “garrire,” meaning to talk, created the term “augur.” An augur was an important religious official who, quite literally, talked to birds. These bird-talkers, or augurs, played a crucial role in decision-making by interpreting the behavior and activities of birds to determine the will of the gods.
No significant step was taken without consulting an augur. They studied everything from flight patterns to bird calls to predict events and guide decisions. The verb “inaugurare” came from this practice, meaning to see omens from the flight of birds and to take action based on favorable signs.
With time, Roman officials would only assume office when the bird omens were deemed favorable. This deep-rooted superstition evolved, and the term eventually found its way into the English language as “inaugurate.” Over the centuries, it shed its mystical undertones and became a staple word in political language, symbolizing the start of new terms and policies without the need for bird signs.
