augury - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From augur +‎ -y, or from Middle English augurie, from Old French augurie, from Latin augurium.

augury (countable and uncountable, plural auguries)

  1. A divination based on the appearance and behaviour of animals.
  2. (by extension) An omen or prediction; a foreboding; a prophecy.
    • 1950 August, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 549:
      Fortunately many of the younger men are keen enough to make a success of their work, and this gives a better augury for the future.
  3. An event that is experienced as indicating important things to come.
    • 1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 2, in Well Tackled!‎[1]:
      Evidently he did not mean to be a mere figurehead, but to carry on the old tradition of Wilsthorpe's; and that was considered to be a good thing in itself and an augury for future prosperity.

an omen or prediction; a foreboding