augur

¹ American  

[aw-ger] / ˈɔ gər /

noun

1. in ancient Rome, any of a group of officials charged with observing and interpreting omens for guidance in public affairs.

2. Sometimes augurer someone who foretells the future and interprets omens; soothsayer or prophet.

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verb (used with object)

1. to serve as an omen or promise of; foreshadow; betoken.

   Mounting sales augur a profitable year.

2. to predict or foretell, as from signs or omens.

   He made careful calculations and augured happy and sure success for the new enterprise.

   The curator augurs from ticket sales that this exhibition will be the dawning of the artist’s career.

verb (used without object)

1. to be a sign of a certain kind of outcome; bode (well, ill, etc.).

   The movement of troops augurs ill for the peace of the area.

2. to make a prediction or guess based on signs or omens.

   Despite receiving him coolly, she had not refused his gift, and he augured favorably from that.

augur ² American  

[aw-ger] / ˈɔ gər /

verb (used without object)

1. to argue, talk, or converse.

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noun

1. an excessively talkative person.

augur British  

/ ˈɔːɡə, ˈɔːɡjʊrəl /

noun

1. Also called: auspex.  (in ancient Rome) a religious official who observed and interpreted omens and signs to help guide the making of public decisions

2. any prophet or soothsayer

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verb

1. to predict (some future event), as from signs or omens

2. (tr; may take a clause as object) to be an omen (of); presage

3. (intr) to foreshadow future events to be as specified; bode

   this augurs well for us

Usage

What does augur mean? Augur means to be a sign or omen of something.To say that an event or occurrence augurs well for the future means that it is a sign or promise of good things to come—that it foreshadows that things will go well, as in These clear skies augur well for our chances of holding the parade. The verb bode is a close synonym, as in This does not bode well for us.This sense of augur is often followed by a word describing a positive or negative outcome, especially well or ill, or a specific outcome, as in Early results of the testing augur success.As a noun, the word augur can be used to refer to a kind of prophet, oracle, or soothsayer—a person who is said to be able to predict the future by using some mystical ability or means.This sense of augur comes from a more specific use of it as a noun referring to an Ancient Roman official who acted as soothsayer or priest. Such augurs were responsible for interpreting omens to guide decisions. Roman lawmakers would consult augurs before officially taking a position.As a verb, augur can also mean to predict using omens or in some other mystical way. Similar words are divine and prognosticate.The related noun augury refers to the practice of soothsaying or divination.Example: So far, the tone of the negotiations augur well for an agreement.

Other Word Forms

• augural adjective
• augurship noun

Etymology

Origin of augur¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin augur, variant of auger “diviner, soothsayer,” derivative of augēre “to increase,” with the original implication of “to prosper”; augment, august

Origin of augur¹

First recorded in 1920–25; variant of argue; noun perhaps by association with auger

Example Sentences

“What happened at Music Inn in the 1950s,” he argues, “was a remarkable confluence of place, people, and politics that reflected and augured seismic shifts and conflicts in American culture.”

From The Wall Street Journal

In her 1958 novel “The Best of Everything,” about a group of young women navigating office life, Rona Jaffe spends a lot of time discussing clothes and how they augur success or failure.

From The Wall Street Journal

Harnett had much simpler taste than his patrons, and while “Ease” is not a vanitas painting auguring death, he was known for incorporating traces of humor and irony in his paintings.

From The Wall Street Journal

The AidData report notes that some early attempts to use credit to finance direct investments or acquisitions have hit regulatory walls, auguring further embarrassment and perhaps losses for China as this trend accelerates.

From The Wall Street Journal

The way consumers feel about the economy often augurs their propensity to spend.

From Barron's

Related Words

• foreshadow
• foretell
• portend
• presage
• signify