Etymologically
Log in

augurium

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 07:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [au̯ˈɡʊ.ri.ũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [au̯ˈɡuː.ri.um][1]

Forms

augurium n (genitive auguriī or augurī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from augur “augur” with the suffix -ium.[2][1][3] Accius has a plural ⟨augura⟩.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Ennius, of taking auguries.[2] Köbler's first source is Plautus.[5] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant the taking of auguries, augury, as Cicero's augurium agere, with augurium salūtis an augury for the safety of the people, and the art of augury, divination, as in Cato.[2][6] It meant an omen, sign, as in Plautus, an indication, a prediction, and a foreboding, presentiment, as in Virgil.[2] Döderlein says auguria and auspicia are natural signs that only the skilled can read.[7]

In Medieval Latin it meant augury, an omen, condemned as pagan in penitentials.[8] It survives in Spanish agüero and Portuguese agouro, and in Old French eür and French heur.[1] English augury came in the late 14th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of augury.[2][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of an omen.[2][5]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of the art of divination.[2][5]
  • late 14th century – English augury is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The taking of auguries, augury.[2]
  2. The art of divination.[2]
  3. An omen, sign.[2]
  4. A prediction; a foreboding.[2]

Word family

  • augurialis
  • augur
  • auspicium
  • English augury

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press