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presage Definition

pres·age (pres′ij; for v. prē sāj′, pri sāj′, pres′ij)

noun

  1. a sign or warning of a future event; omen; portent; augury
  2. a foreboding; presentiment
  3. Rare a prediction
  4. foreshadowing quality of ominous presage

Etymology: ME < MFr < L praesagium, a foreboding < prae-, before + sagire, to perceive: see pre- & sagacious

transitive verb presaged -·aged′, presaging -·ag′·ing

  1. to give a presage, or warning, of; portend
  2. to have a foreboding or presentiment of
  3. to predict

Etymology: Fr présager < the vt.

intransitive verb

  1. Rare to have a presentiment
  2. to make a prediction

Related Forms:

presage Synonyms

presage

v.

augur, forecast, predict; see foretell.

presage Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • death: The widow later said that " to have a sighting of this phantom is believed to be a presage of death.

Object

  • end: Assuming that the referendum presages an end to terrorist violence, what will be the impact on the British Army?
  • change: This is exactly the type of crisis which presages fundamental historical change.
  • factor: The only presage factors which related directly to test performance are achievement motivation ( positive ) and deep strategy ( negative ).
  • death: In some cultures, breaking a mirror was thought to presage a death in the family.
  • something: It also holds the key to why the current rumpus presages something far, far worse.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: A quick glance at the sky to reassure myself that the scudding clouds did not presage rain.
  • only: The experiences of China and Yugoslavia only presage more far-reaching developments to come.
presage Quotes

How strange the stars have grown; The presage of extinction glows on their crests And they are beautied with impermanence.

—Scott, Duncan Campell