augur English · revision 1623

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɔːɡə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɔɡɚ/, /ˈɑɡɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|augur]], the title of a Roman religious official who foretold events from omens.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The Latin word is probably related to [[la|augēre|t=to increase]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Etymonline) perhaps first meaning an increase in crops brought about by ritual.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) An older and more popular theory derives it from [[la|avis|t=bird]], since birds were watched for omens.^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun and from [[la|augurārī|t=to predict from omens]].^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A Roman official whose duty was to read omens and advise on public business (1549).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster and Barnhart date the noun to the 14th century.^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Roman title was extended to any soothsayer or prophet by 1593.^(OED 1989) The verb, “to predict from signs”, followed in 1601,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) and from 1826 things as well as people could augur, in the sense “to be a sign of”.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The phrases ''augur well'' and ''augur ill'' date from the late 18th century.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1393 – first recorded, per Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1540s – a Roman diviner.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)

+ * 1593 – any soothsayer or prophet.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – verb, to predict from omens.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1788 – of things, to give good or bad promise.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1826 – to betoken or portend.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(history)'' An official of ancient [[Rome]] who interpreted [[omen|alt=omens]] to guide public affairs.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[seer]] or [[prophet]]; a [[soothsayer]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To predict, especially from signs or omens.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # To be a sign of something to come; to [[bode]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[augural]]

+ * [[augury]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[auspice]]

+ * [[inaugurate]]

+ * [[augment]]

+ * [[august]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}