definitions

augur

1
[ aw-ger ]
/ ˈɔ gər /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR augur ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

one of a group of ancient Roman officials charged with observing and interpreting omens for guidance in public affairs.
soothsayer; prophet.

verb (used with object)

to divine or predict, as from omens; prognosticate.
to serve as an omen or promise of; foreshadow; betoken: Mounting sales augur a profitable year.

verb (used without object)

to conjecture from signs or omens; predict.
to be a sign; bode: The movement of troops augurs ill for the peace of the area.

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RELATED WORDS

foreshadow, signify, foretell, presage, portend, diviner, harbinger, seer, prognosticator, forecaster, prophet, herald, oracle, soothsayer, read, prophesy, adumbrate, forecast, promise, bespeak

Nearby words

augmented sixth, augmented transition network, augmenter, augsburg, augsburg confession, augur, augur well for, augury, august, augusta, augustales

Origin of augur

1
1540–50; < Latin augur (variant of auger) a diviner, soothsayer, derivative of augēre to augment with orig. implication of “prosper”; cf. august

Can be confused

auger augur

Definition for augur (2 of 2)

augur

2
[ aw-ger ]
/ ˈɔ gər /
Western U.S.

verb (used without object)

to argue, talk, or converse.

noun

an excessively talkative person.

Origin of augur

2
1920–25; metathetic variant of argue; noun perhaps by association with auger

Can be confused

auger augur
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for augur

British Dictionary definitions for augur

augur

/ (ˈɔːɡə) /

noun

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

verb

to predict (some future event), as from signs or omens
(tr; may take a clause as object) to be an omen (of); presage
(intr) to foreshadow future events to be as specified; bodethis augurs well for us

Derived Forms

augural (ˈɔːɡjʊrəl), adjectiveaugurship, noun

Word Origin for augur

C14: from Latin: a diviner, perhaps from augēre to increase
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012