presage

[ noun pres-ij; verb pres-ij, pri-seyj ]

noun

1. a presentiment or foreboding.

   Synonyms: premonition, indication

2. something that portends or foreshadows a future event; an omen, prognostic, or warning indication.

   Synonyms: token, sign, portent

3. prophetic significance; augury.
4. foresight; prescience.
5. Archaic. a forecast or prediction.

verb (used with object)

presaged, presaging.

1. to have a presentiment of.
2. to portend, foreshow, or foreshadow:

   The incidents may presage war.

3. to forecast; predict.

verb (used without object)

presaged, presaging.

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

presage

noun

1. an intimation or warning of something about to happen; portent; omen
2. a sense of what is about to happen; foreboding
3. archaic.
   a forecast or prediction

verb

1. tr to have a presentiment of
2. tr to give a forewarning of; portend
3. intr to make a prediction

Derived Forms

• preˈsageful, adjective
• preˈsagefully, adverb
• preˈsager, noun

Other Word Forms

• presage·ful adjective
• presage·ful·ly adverb
• presag·er noun
• un·presaged adjective
• un·presag·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of presage¹

1350–1400; Middle English (noun) < Middle French presage < Latin praesāgium presentiment, forewarning, equivalent to praesāg ( us ) having a foreboding ( prae- pre- + sāgus prophetic; sagacious ) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of presage¹

C14: from Latin praesāgium presentiment, from praesāgīre to perceive beforehand, from sāgīre to perceive acutely

Example Sentences

The apocalyptic imagination, he argued, imposes on history “neat, naïve patterns” presaging a turning point in the grand scheme of humanity.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s no denying David Johansen’s bratty vocalizing… But unlike the MC5 — fellow revolutionaries who more directly presaged the hard-core aspects of the coming punk rebellion — the Dolls had clearer roots in the rock mainstream.”

From Los Angeles Times

By the end of the ’60s, Butler had struck up a fruitful partnership with Gamble and Huff that presaged the success that duo would find in the ’70s.

From Los Angeles Times

The response presaged the film’s Golden Lion victory at the festival.

From Los Angeles Times

And as a presidential candidate, he sounded early warnings about the dangers of Vladimir Putin and a resurgent Russia and presaged the increasingly tense relationship between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China.

From Los Angeles Times