omen

[oh-muhn]

noun

1. anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or evil event or circumstance in the future; portent.

   Synonyms: foreboding, augury

2. a prognostic.

3. prophetic significance; presage.

   a bird of ill omen.

verb (used with object)

1. to be an omen of; portend.

2. to divine, as if from omens.

omen

/ ˈəʊmən /

noun

1. a phenomenon or occurrence regarded as a sign of future happiness or disaster

2. prophetic significance

verb

1. (tr) to portend

Other Word Forms

• unomened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of omen¹

First recorded in 1575–85, omen is from the Latin word ōmen

Word History and Origins

Origin of omen¹

C16: from Latin

Synonym Study

See sign.

Example Sentences

Those looking for a good omen will note, however, that the famous result helped Northern Ireland qualify for that summer's World Cup in Sweden.

Read more on BBC

It was all a vicious distortion, though an omen of the vitriol that now dominates our politics.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But if you believe in omens, this might not be a good one for the Gunners...

Read more on BBC

Whether that’s a bad omen for AI or an understandable response to Oracle’s debt load likely depends on your prior convictions about AI.

Read more on Barron's

Was the Chargers’ loss to the previously winless New York Giants a mere blip or an omen of what life’s going to be like with a patchwork offensive line?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• harbinger 
• indication 
• portent 
• premonition