augur

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin augur, of uncertain origin; akin to augurō (“interpret omens”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɔː.ɡə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɔ.ɡɚ/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈɑ.ɡɚ/

• Audio (US cot-caught merger)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔːɡə(ɹ)
• Homophone: auger; see also AGA

Noun

augur (plural augurs)

1. A diviner who foretells events by the behaviour of birds or other animals, or by signs derived from celestial phenomena, or unusual occurrences.
   • Dryden

     Augur of ill, whose tongue was never found / Without a priestly curse or boding sound.

2. (Ancient Rome) An official who interpreted omens before the start of public events.

Verb

augur (third-person singular simple present augurs, present participle auguring, simple past and past participle augured)

1. To foretell events; to exhibit signs of future events.
2. To anticipate, to foretell, or to indicate a favorable or an unfavorable issue.

   to augur well or ill

Further reading

• augur in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• augur in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• augur at OneLook Dictionary Search

Etymology

Of uncertain origin. Two possibilities are:

• From Old Latin *augus (“increase”) (genitive *augeris), which is related to augeō (“to increase”).^[1]
• From avis (“bird”) + garrire (“to talk”), as augurs were known to observe the behavior of birds.^[2]

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈau̯.ɡur/, [ˈau̯.ɡʊr]

Noun

augur m, f (genitive auguris); third declension

1. augur

References

• augur in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• augur in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• augur in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• augur in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• augur in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin
• augur in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Etymology

Borrowed from French augure, from Latin augur, augurium.

Noun

augur m (plural auguri)

1. augur, auspex

Noun

augur n (uncountable)

1. augury, omen

Noun

augur m (plural augures)

1. augur