Augur as a verb means to predict or foreshadow, often based on signs or patterns. It can also mean to portend or foretell an outcome. In formal or literary contexts, it implies interpreting indicators to forecast what will happen. Usage tends to be metaphorical rather than literal forecasting.
"Investors looked at the market signals to augur a coming downturn."
"Some economists argue that the downturn will not augur well for the housing market, while others see a gradual recovery."
"The ominous clouds over the horizon augur a storm approaching."
"Her terse warning augurs ill for the project’s chances of success."
Augur comes from Middle English avour, from Old French augurer, derived from Latin augurare, meaning ‘to use the augur’s art’ (to predict or foretell). The root augur originally referred to a priestly official in ancient Rome who interpreted the will of the gods by inspecting the flight of birds and various omens. The Latin augur is from augurium, omen or sign, related to audire (to hear) in some etymologies, reflecting the practice of listening to signs from the heavens and natural phenomena. Over time, the word broadened beyond religious omen readings to general forecasting or indicating likely outcomes. In English, augur has retained a formal, slightly archaic flavor, often found in political, literary, or analytical discourse. It is used both transitively (to augur something) and intransitively (to augur well/ill). First known use in English appears in the 14th century, with a stronger Latin/Old French influence in scholarly writing of the Renaissance, reinforcing its association with interpretation, signs, and prediction.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Augur" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Augur"
-ger sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as AU-ger, with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈɔːɡər/ in US and UK dictionaries. Start with an open back rounded vowel for the first sound, then a soft 'g' as in 'go,' and finish with a schwa or a short 'er' syllable. If you’re listening, you’ll notice the first vowel is longer and the second is unstressed. MP3/audio references: Cambridge/Oxford provide listening samples and IPA. Practice by isolating the UG/RO mouth shapes: /ˈɔː/ then /ɡɚ/.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the second syllable, saying /ˈɔːɡər/ with stress on -ger. 2) Slurring the /ɡ/ into a /d/ or /k/, producing /ˈɔːdʒər/ or /ˈɔːkər/. 3) Deleting the rhotic end, producing a non-rhotic ending like /ˈɔːɡə/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, clearly articulate /ɡ/ as a stop before a relaxed /ɚ/; finish with a light, unstressed schwa or rhotic vowel depending on accent. Use slow imitation with a word pair like ‘augur’ vs. ‘a-guru’ to reinforce chunking.
US: /ˈɔːɡər/ with rhotic /ɹ/ and a fuller /ɔː/ in many dialects. UK: /ˈɔːɡə/ with non-rhotic tendency; the final vowel often reduced to a schwa. Australian: /ˈɔːɡə/ similar to UK, but with broader vowels and a slightly more pronounced /ɡ/ closure. In all, the first syllable bears primary stress; the second is typically unstressed. Listen to native samples to notice subtle vowel length and rhoticity differences.
The difficulty stems from the combination of a stressed open-front vowel /ɔː/ followed by a voiced velar stop /ɡ/ and a soft, reduced ending /ər/ or /ə/. Learners often apply a short /ɔ/ or misplace stress, or over-articulate the final vowel. Pay attention to making the /ɡ/ decisive without releasing a heavy aspiration into the second syllable. IPA cues and mouth positioning are essential for accurate pronunciation in different accents.
An important nuance is the subtle difference between /ˈɔːɡər/ and potential regional variants like /ˈɒɡjər/ or /ˈɔːɡjər/ where people insert a yod-like /j/ before the final vowel in casual speech. In careful articulation, avoid inserting /j/ and keep the transition from /ɡ/ to the ending vowel smooth, with the final syllable short and unstressed. Practice listening to native samples and mirror the exact mouth movements.
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