What does auguring mean?
Auguring is the present participle of the verb 'to augur,' meaning to predict or foreshadow what is to come, particularly on the basis of signs, omens, or early indications. The word carries a formal, somewhat literary tone and is most frequently encountered in phrases such as 'auguring well for' or 'auguring badly,' which describe whether current evidence points toward a favorable or unfavorable outcome. Its origins lie in ancient Rome, where augurs were official priests who interpreted the will of the gods by observing the flight and behavior of birds; the modern sense retains this aura of reading hidden signals in present circumstances. Though not common in everyday speech, auguring remains valuable in journalism, political analysis, and historical writing precisely because it conveys prediction grounded in evidence rather than mere guessing. A reader who masters it gains an elegant alternative to blunter words like 'predicting' or 'signaling.'
verbThe present participle and gerund of 'augur': to predict or foreshadow a future event, especially on the basis of signs or omens.
- To predict or indicate a future event, typically through omens, signs, or observable evidence (often in the constructions 'augur well' or 'augur ill/badly').
- (Historical) To practice divination as an augur in ancient Rome, interpreting natural signs such as bird flight.
"The unusually warm winter was auguring poorly for the region's ski industry."
"Early sales figures were auguring well for the company's holiday season."
"The dark clouds gathering over the valley seemed to be auguring a violent storm."
Ancient Roman officials called augurs read the flight of birds to predict the future — and every time you say something doesn't 'augur well,' you're echoing a two-thousand-year-old divination ritual.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of auguring
Auguring traces back to the Latin noun 'augur,' an official diviner in ancient Rome whose duty was to interpret divine intentions by observing birds and other natural phenomena. The verb 'augurare' ('to act as an augur, to predict') developed from this noun and entered English in the late sixteenth century. The ultimate etymology is uncertain, though it may derive from the same root that gives us 'inaugurate,' reflecting how new officials began their term under an augur's blessing. Cognate forms include 'augury' and 'augural.'
Related word forms
How auguring is actually used
Formal to literary in register; rarely used in casual conversation except in the fossilized phrase 'doesn't augur well.' Most often appears in journalism and political commentary about likely outcomes.
Easily confused with auguring
'Arguing' means debating or disputing with someone, while 'auguring' means predicting or foreshadowing future events.