verb / noun
augur
AW-ger/ˈɔːɡər/
To interpret signs as indications of future events.
The gardener augurs a plentiful harvest from the healthy fruit-tree buds.
Etymology
A Latin augur interpreted natural signs as clues to future events. The official’s title became a verb for predicting, then also for a sign itself indicating what would happen.
More examples
- Dark clouds augured a difficult crossing.
- An ancient Roman augur interpreted the flight of birds.
- The early results are auguring badly for the ambitious project.
Forms
augur · augurs · augured · auguring
augury noun — A prediction or sign of future events.
Similar words
- bode
- Usually occurs with well or ill to indicate a likely outcome.
- foretell
- More directly predicts an event rather than interpreting its signs.