noun
augur
AW-guh
Augur (noun) means a person in ancient Rome who interpreted omens and signs, especially from the behaviour of birds, to predict the future. Example: “The augur declared the omens favourable before the battle.”
noun
1
A person in ancient Rome who interpreted omens and signs, especially from the behaviour of birds, to predict the future.
"The augur declared the omens favourable before the battle."
verb
1
To be a sign of something to come; to predict or foreshadow.
"The strong opening quarter augurs well for the rest of the year."
How to use augur
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo be an early sign of what's coming — usually seen in the phrase "augurs well/badly."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with auger, the drilling tool — they sound alike but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
augurs well
augurs badly
augur for the future
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Word forms
- Plural
- augurs
- Third person singular
- augurs
- Past tense
- augured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ declared the omens favourable before the battle.
Etymology
From Latin augur, a title of uncertain deeper origin, related to the verb augurare, "to interpret omens."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “augur” mean?
The word “augur” means a person in ancient Rome who interpreted omens and signs, especially from the behaviour of birds, to predict the future. In plain terms, to be an early sign of what's coming — usually seen in the phrase "augurs well/badly.".
How do you pronounce “augur”?
“Augur” is pronounced AW-guh (/ˈɔːɡə/ in IPA).
How do you use “augur” in a sentence?
Here is “augur” used in a sentence: “The augur declared the omens favourable before the battle.”
What part of speech is “augur”?
Depending on how it is used, “augur” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “augur” come from?
The word “augur” comes from Latin. From Latin augur, a title of uncertain deeper origin, related to the verb augurare, "to interpret omens.".
How many meanings does “augur” have?
“Augur” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person in ancient Rome who interpreted omens and signs, especially from the behaviour of birds, to predict the future.
