Augury
Word of the Day
What is Augury?
noun
A sign of what will happen in the future; an omen; the practice of interpreting such signs.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen to examine how humans seek patterns in chance.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
Dark clouds were a poor augury for the parade.
He took the early metrics as an augury of success.
Ancient priests practiced augury before battles.
Word Origins
Latin augurium “divination,” from augur “seer”
Romans read bird flight and lightning as auguries.
First appearance in English: late Middle English
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
-
Adjective:
An auspicious start lifted morale.
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Noun:
A sudden silence felt like an omen.
-
Verb:
Clouds portended rain.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: augurio
- French: augure
- German: Vorbote / Omen
- Italian: augurio / presagio
- Portuguese: augúrio / presságio
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Omen
Generic sign; augury includes practice of reading signs.
Harbinger
A forerunner that signals approach; not necessarily divinatory.
Presage
Verb or noun for foretelling; augury is more ritualistic.
Fun Facts
- “Auspicious” shares the bird-watching root with augury.
- Augurs held official state roles in Rome.
Cultural Usage
- Augury guided Roman public decisions.
- Poets use augury motifs to foreshadow fate.
Common Mistakes
Not proof of causation — only an omen metaphor.
Micro Story
Investors misread short-term data as augury for collapse.