augur

[ aw-ger ]

/ ˈɔ gər /

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See synonyms for: augur / augured / auguring 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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of augur

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH augur

auger, augur

Other definitions for augur (2 of 2)

augur²

[ aw-ger ]

/ ˈɔ gər /

Western U.S.

verb (used without object)

to argue, talk, or converse.

noun

an excessively talkative person.

Origin of augur

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use augur in a sentence

A mid-70s big textbook battle in the capital city of Charleston over the usual things, science and God, augured what was coming.
West Virginia. Sigh.|Michael Tomasky|June 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In a prescient op-ed in 2004, Jason Zengerle argued that evolving comic portrayals augured bad times for the president.
Bush Is Fun Again!|Michael Schaffer|May 23, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Not that he understood why she was so much more effusive than of old, but if it augured a happier life together, he was glad.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science|Various
I found upon inquiry at the Chittenango House that I was the only guest, which augured well for a good night's sleep.
Ocean to Ocean on Horseback|Willard Glazier

But she carried this generosity to a degree that augured ill for the preservation of Mazarin's millions.
Court Beauties of Old Whitehall|W. R. H. Trowbridge
His face announced that; and Louis, hot all over, despite the keen wind and frosty air, augured the worst.
The Long Night|Stanley Weyman
Augured to him his mind no good, when he saw the giantess's sorrow on the floor coming.
The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson|Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre Sturleson

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 of augur

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

augur

Origin of augur

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH augur

Other definitions for augur (2 of 2)

Origin of augur

Words related to augur

How to use augur in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for augur

Derived forms of augur

Word Origin for augur