augury

[ aw-gyuh-ree ]

noun

, plural au·gu·ries.

1. the art or practice of an augur; divination.
2. the rite or ceremony of an augur.
3. an omen, token, or indication.

augury

/ ˈɔːɡjʊrɪ /

noun

1. the art of or a rite conducted by an augur
2. a sign or portent; omen

Other Words From

• augu·ral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of augury¹

1325–75; Middle English < Latin augurium soothsaying, equivalent to augur augur ¹ + -ium -ium

Example Sentences

These men, often accompanying the marching army, had the important duty of convincing the soldiery of favorable battle omens by a mix of showmanship and augury.

From Realm of History

When he ended Vieux Carré with the stage direction, “The house is empty now,” Lahr somberly terms it “an augury and an epitaph.”

From The Daily Beast

But Andrea spills salt upon the table, which evil augury seems to be taken seriously.

From Project Gutenberg

Hope was the first horse Napoleon rode on the island, and it pleased him to think that this name was an augury.

From Project Gutenberg

No other mode of augury is received with such implicit faith by the people, the nobility, and the priesthood.

From Project Gutenberg

Above all, there were expressions in his letters that seemed of sad augury.

From Project Gutenberg

They knew not that it was an augury of the fateful tragedy at the gates of Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Augury

What does augury mean?

Augury is the practice of auguring—attempting to predict the future based on interpreting omens or in some other mystical way.

The word augur can also be used as a noun 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. Augury can refer to the practice of such an augur or to a specific ceremony or rite used by an augur.

Augur can also be used in a more specific way to refer to an Ancient Roman official who acted as soothsayer or priest. Such augurs were responsible for augury that involved interpreting omens to guide decisions. Roman lawmakers would consult augurs before officially taking a position.

Augury can also be used to refer to an omen, sign, or indication of something, as in Red skies in the morning are known to sailors as an augury of bad weather.

Example: Regardless of what form of augury they claim to use, no one can truly predict the future.

Where does augury come from?

The first records of the word augury come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin augurium, meaning “soothsaying.” It ultimately derives from the Latin 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 augury is used in a general way referring to an indication of something that will happen, it’s associated with the mysticism of its more specific uses that involve attempts to actually predict the future.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to augury?

• augural (adjective)
• augur (noun, verb)

What are some synonyms for augury?

• prognostication
• divination
• soothsaying
• omen
• indication
• sign

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

• augur well for
• inaugurate
• augment
• august

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

• predict
• future
• auspice
• auspex
• bode
• weather
• prophecy
• fortune

How is augury used in real life?

Even when augury is used in a general way, it often calls to mind its more specific senses involving mystical ways of predicting the future.

Forecasting into 3030 would make you a prophet, not a meteorologist. But you'd still have to practice augury no matter which career path you choose. 😉

— Jonny Appleseed ≤🆒 (@J_Dubya80) May 12, 2020

A robin is flying around the chamber of the House of Commons. What strange augury is this?

— Alex Burghart (@alexburghart) January 31, 2018

My laptop screen randomly broke and nothing has been going right since then. Was this some kind of an augury of bad times starting?

— Mashal Rafiq (@mash_rafiq) February 21, 2020

 

Try using augury!

Which of the following words can be used as a synonym of augury?

A. divination
B. soothsaying
C. prognostication
D. all of the above