What does augurer mean?
An augurer is a person who predicts future events by interpreting signs, omens, or other supposed evidence of divine intention. The word is uncommon in modern English and has a formal, archaic, or literary quality. Its best-known historical association is with the Roman priesthood: Roman augurs examined auspices, including the flight of birds, to determine whether public undertakings met with divine approval. In broader literary use, an augurer may interpret dreams, natural anomalies, animal behavior, or other portents. The term is occasionally used in stories and historical writing to evoke a figure whose knowledge rests on traditional signs rather than ordinary evidence. Because it can refer both to a general predictor and specifically to a Roman diviner, augurer combines an old-fashioned atmosphere with a clear, concrete meaning: a person who reads omens and makes forecasts.
nounA diviner or predictor who interprets signs and omens to foretell future events. Historically, the term could also refer to a Roman priest who interpreted the auspices.
- A diviner or predictor who foretells future events by interpreting signs and omens.
- Historically, a Roman priest belonging to the college of augurs who interpreted the auspices for the Roman state.
"The augurer interpreted the swallows' erratic flight as a warning of impending conflict."
"The augurer studied the patterns of the scattered grain and declared that the journey would succeed."
"Before the election, a Roman augurer watched the birds for signs of divine approval."
The plural is augurers, used for practitioners of augury, particularly historical Roman diviners.
"The augurers gathered to observe the birds before the army departed."
Roman augurs claimed to read the gods' intentions in the flight of birds before major political decisions were made.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does augurer come from?
English augurer was formed from augur and the agentive suffix -er, meaning a person who augurs. The word ultimately derives from Latin augurium, meaning an omen or divinatory sign, which is related to Latin augere, “to increase.” Related English forms include augury, augural, and auspicious, all preserving aspects of the Roman tradition of interpreting signs.
Related word forms
How augurer is actually used
Rare and elevated, with a strongly historical or literary flavor. Outside references to ancient Roman divination, it sounds old-fashioned and conveys a solemn or traditional form of prediction.
Easily confused with augurer
An augurer is a person who interprets omens, whereas an augur is an omen itself or the verb meaning to predict from signs.
An augurer is the person who performs divination, while augury is the practice of interpreting omens.