Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The art, ability, or practice of auguring; divination.
  • noun A sign of something coming; an omen.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The art or practice of foretelling events by signs or omens.
  • noun That which forebodes; that from which a prediction is drawn; an omen or significant token.
  • noun Figuratively, indication; presage; promise.
  • noun Synonyms Portent, Sign, etc. See omen.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The art or practice of foretelling events by observing the actions of birds, etc.; divination.
  • noun An omen; prediction; prognostication; indication of the future; presage.
  • noun A rite, ceremony, or observation of an augur.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A divination based on the appearance and behaviour of animals.
  • noun by extension An omen or prediction; a foreboding; a prophecy.
  • noun An event that is experienced as indicating important things to come.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English augurie, from Old French, from Latin augurium, from augur, augur; see augur.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

augur +‎ -y, or from Old French augurie, from Latin augurium.

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  • Tanty augury: misspelling of Italian tanti auguri, or gay omen?

    April 16, 2008