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inaugural

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Etymology and origin of the French word inaugural

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1670 Chapelain, Lettres More words from the 17th century
Ultimate origin
Latin inaugurō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin augur
English augur
Latin augurō
Latin inaugurō
French inaugurer
French inaugural
English inaugural
From the same root
Latin augurālis ← augur
Latin augurātus ← augur
Latin augurium ← augur
Latin inaugurātiō ← inaugurō

Pronunciation

  • /i.no.ɡy.ʁal/[1]

Forms

inaugural (feminine inaugurale, masculine plural inauguraux, feminine plural inaugurales)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French inaugurer + -al, on the model of augural.[2][3][4][5] The verb inaugurer is from Latin inaugurō (“to take the auguries, consecrate”), a term of Roman religious language.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1670 in Chapelain's letters, in the phrase vostre oraison inaugurale, an oration by which something is inaugurated.[2][6][7]

Semantic evolution

The present general sense, relating to an inauguration, was recorded by the Académie in 1798; the Académie gives fête inaugurale from 1835.[7][2] In academic usage a leçon inaugurale or discours inaugural is the first lecture of a professor taking up his chair.[2][8][5]

Timeline

  • c. 1670 – First recorded in Chapelain's letters.[2][7]
  • 1798 – The Académie records the sense “relating to an inauguration”.[7]
  • 1835 – The Académie records fête inaugurale.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Relating to an inauguration, opening: la séance inaugurale du festival.[5][2]
  2. Leçon inaugurale, discours inaugural: the first lecture of a professor taking up a chaire.[5][8][2]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Inaugural.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/inaugural. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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