augur

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.

The first records of the word augur come from the 1540s. It comes from the Latin augur or auger, meaning “a diviner” or “a soothsayer,” from the verb augēre, “to increase” or “to augment” (with the implication of making something prosper). The English words augment and inaugurate are based on the same root. Inaugurate means “to formally induct someone into public office” and its origin alludes to the Roman practice of politicians consulting augurs.

The Ancient Roman augurs were highly respected religious officials. They were consulted prior to major events such as wars, the founding of colonies, and the induction (inauguration) of political officials. Much of their augury was based on interpreting the flight patterns of birds. Another word for this kind of augur is auspex. The related word auspice means “a favorable sign” or “a divination or prognostication, such as from observing birds.”

Even when augur is used in a general way simply meaning “to be a sign of things to come,” it is associated with the mysticism of its more specific uses that involve people claiming to actually predict the future.

What are some other forms related to augur?

• augury (noun)
• augural (adjective)
• augurship (noun)

What are some synonyms for augur?

• bode
• be an omen of
• foreshadow
• predict
• prognosticate
• divine 
• foretell
• diviner 
• seer
• prognosticator
• oracle
• soothsayer
• auspex

What are some words that share a root or word element with augur? 

• augur well for
• inaugurate
• augment
• august

What are some words that often get used in discussing augur?

• well
• ill
• omen
• sign
• future
• weather
• prophecy
• fortune

What are some words augur may be commonly confused with?

• auger

Augur is commonly used in the phrase augur well for. Even when it’s used in a general way, it often calls to mind its more specific senses involving mystical ways of predicting the future.

The sudden German troop reduction proposal does not augur well for South Korea.

— Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) June 5, 2020

#France unemployment up again in Dec, 75th month of YoY increase. Augurs ill for consumer/corporate rebound #EuroZone pic.twitter.com/YiFEE3BuEM

— Robert Ward (@RobertAlanWard) February 3, 2015

Curious what an augur would make of this for the coming SCOTUS confirmation fight https://t.co/AVNxKhzAeR

— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 19, 2020

Which of the following words can be used as a synonym of augur when it refers to a person who is said to be able to predict the future?

A. seer
B. soothsayer
C. prognosticator
D. all of the above