augur Hear it!

augur definition

au·gur (ô′gər)

noun

  1. in ancient Rome, any of a body of officials who interpreted omens as being favorable or unfavorable in connection with an undertaking
  2. a fortuneteller; prophet; soothsayer

Etymology: L, orig., a priest at rituals of fertility and increase, prob. < OL *augos (gen. *augeris), increase, growth < augere (see wax); meaning infl. by auspex, auspex

transitive verb, intransitive verb

  1. to foretell or prophesy from omens
  2. to be an omen (of); presage cloudy skies augur rain

Etymology: L augurari < the n.

augur Idioms

augur ill (or well)

to be a bad (or good) omen

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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