- The definition of a presage is a feeling or warning about something that's going to happen.
An example of a presage is a bomb threat being called in.
presage definition by Webster's New World
noun
- a sign or warning of a future event; omen; portent; augury
- a foreboding; presentiment
- Rare a prediction
- foreshadowing quality: of ominous presage
Origin: Middle English ; from Middle French ; from Classical Latin praesagium, a foreboding ; from prae-, before plush sagire, to perceive: see pre- and amp; sagacious
transitive verb presaged, presaging
- to give a presage, or warning, of; portend
- to have a foreboding or presentiment of
- to predict
Origin: Fr présager < the vt.
intransitive verb
- Rare to have a presentiment
- to make a prediction
Related Forms:
- presager noun
presage definition by American Heritage Dictionary
noun
- An indication or warning of a future occurrence; an omen.
- A feeling or intuition of what is going to occur; a presentiment.
- Prophetic significance or meaning.
- Archaic A prediction.
- To indicate or warn of in advance; portend.
- To have a presentiment of.
- To foretell or predict.
To make or utter a prediction.
Origin: Middle English, from Latin praesāgium, from praesāgīre, to perceive beforehand : prae-, pre- + sāgīre, to perceive; see sāg- in Indo-European roots.
Related Forms:
- pre·sageˈful adjective
