presage

[pres-ij, 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

Other Word Forms

• presageful adjective
• presagefully adverb
• presager noun
• unpresaged adjective
• unpresaging 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

Now, though, an executive order signed by President Trump could presage legal challenges of pioneering California laws that overhauled school discipline by banning willful defiance suspensions for K-12 students.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Related Words

• augur 
• forebode 
• foresee 
• foreshadow 
• foretell 
• portend 
• signify