augur

/ˈɔgər/

Other forms: augurs; augured; auguring

To augur is to predict or indicate. A black cat passing in front of you is said to augur bad luck, but if you love cats you can choose to believe that it augurs good luck instead.

In the past, when you said you would augur the future it meant you would predict it. That form of augur is rarely used today, but the sense of prediction — connected to an object or event — remains. Dark clouds augur a rainstorm. If you skip a dress rehearsal before opening night of a show, it won’t augur well for your performance. The Latin root stems from an ancient Roman religious official who predicted the future from omens.

Definitions of augur

1. verb

   predict from an omen
   type of:

   anticipate, call, forebode, foretell, predict, prognosticate, promise

   make a prediction about; tell in advance
2. verb

   indicate by signs
   synonyms: auspicate, betoken, bode, forecast, foreshadow, foretell, omen, portend, predict, prefigure, presage, prognosticate

   types:

   threaten

   to be a menacing indication of something:"The clouds threaten rain"

   foreshow

   foretell by divine inspiration

   type of:

   bespeak, betoken, indicate, point, signal

   be a signal for or a symptom of
3. noun

   (ancient Rome) a religious official who interpreted omens to guide public policy
   synonyms: auspex

   type of:

   oracle, prophesier, prophet, seer, vaticinator

   an authoritative person who divines the future