Auguries are omens or signs that are believed to predict future events. They have been used for centuries by different cultures, and their interpretations vary depending on the context and the culture. In this article, we will explore the definition, origin, meaning, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences of auguries.
Definitions
Auguries are defined as signs or omens that are believed to foretell future events. They are often interpreted by diviners or seers who have the ability to understand their meaning. They can be natural phenomena such as the flight of birds or the behavior of animals, or they can be man-made objects such as coins, cards, or dice.
Origin
The word “augury” comes from the Latin word “augurium,” which means “divination” or “prophecy.” In ancient Rome, augurs were priests who interpreted the flight of birds as a way of predicting the future. They believed that the gods communicated with them through these signs, and they used them to make important decisions such as when to go to war or when to hold elections.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an augury is “a sign of what will happen in the future, often a good or bad omen.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “a sign of something coming; an omen.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a sign of what will happen in the future, or an explanation of what will happen or what a situation will be like in the future.”
Associations
Auguries are associated with different cultures and traditions. In ancient Rome, they were used by the augurs to interpret the flight of birds. In ancient Greece, they were used by the oracle at Delphi to predict the future. In Chinese culture, they are associated with the I Ching, a book of divination that uses coins or sticks to generate hexagrams that are interpreted by a diviner.
Synonyms
Synonyms of auguries include omens, signs, portents, harbingers, prophecies, predictions, forecasts, and prognostications.
Antonyms
Antonyms of auguries include disbelief, skepticism, doubt, uncertainty, and ignorance.
The same root words
The root word of auguries is “augur,” which means a person who predicts the future by interpreting omens or signs. The word “augment” also comes from the same root, which means to increase or enhance something.
Example Sentences
- The flight of birds was considered an augury of good or bad fortune in ancient Rome.
- The oracle at Delphi was famous for her auguries and prophecies.
- The I Ching is a book of auguries that is still used by many people in China today.
- The sudden appearance of a black cat was seen as an augury of bad luck by some people.
- The stock market crash was seen as an augury of an economic recession.