Presage — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈpre-sij/ pres·age

Meaning & Definition of Presage

Presage (noun)

  1. something that foreshadows or portends a future event, omen
  2. an intuition or feeling of what is going to happen in the future
  3. prognostication

Presage (verb)

  1. to give an omen or warning of, foreshadow
  2. foretell, predict
  3. to make or utter a prediction

Presage (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling that something bad will happen

    "I had a nagging presage that the results of my medical tests would not be good"

    similar: foreboding, premonition, presentiment, prognostication
    related: anticipation, foreknowledge, feel, insight, intuition, augury, omen, portent, sign, impression, suspicion, agitation, alarm, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, disquiet, doubt, dread, fear, misgiving, nervousness, perturbation, unease, uneasiness, worry, foresight, prescience

  2. something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event

    "the sight of the first robin is always a welcome presage of spring"

    similar: augury, auspice, boding, foreboding, foreshadowing, omen, portent, prefiguring, straw in the wind
    related: forerunner, harbinger, herald, precursor, foretaste, hint, inkling, intimation, suggestion, forewarning, forecast, foretelling, prediction, prognostication, prophecy, badge, mark, note, token, divination

Presage (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to tell of or describe beforehand

    "people used to believe that a comet presaged a major event, such as the death of a king"

    similar: augur, call, forecast, foretell, predict, prognosticate, prophesy, read, vaticinate
    related: alert, caution, forewarn, warn, bode, forebode, portend, promise, anticipate, divine, foreknow, foresee, announce, declare, herald, proclaim
    near: describe, narrate, recite, recount, relate, report, tell

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Presage

The most common words with a similar meaning to Presage:

foreboding, premonition, presentiment, prognostication, augury, auspice, boding, foreshadowing, omen, portent, prefiguring, straw in the wind, augur, call, forecast, foretell, predict, prognosticate, prophesy, read, vaticinate

Related Words for Presage

anticipation, foreknowledge, feel, insight, intuition, sign, impression, suspicion, agitation, alarm, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, disquiet, doubt, dread, fear, misgiving, nervousness, perturbation, unease, uneasiness, worry, foresight, prescience, forerunner, harbinger

Near Antonyms of Presage

describe, narrate, recite, recount, relate, report, tell

Word Forms of Presage

Inflections: presaged, presaging

Derived words: presageful (adjective), presager (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Presage

Middle English, from Latin praesagium, from praesagus having a foreboding, from prae- + sagus prophetic seek

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Presage

What does "Presage" mean?

"Presage" means something that foreshadows or portends a future event, omen. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: something that foreshadows or portends a future event, omen. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Presage"?

Other words for "Presage" include foreboding, premonition, presentiment, prognostication, augury, auspice, boding and foreshadowing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Presage" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Presage"?

There are 82 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Presage". Common alternatives include foreboding, premonition, presentiment, prognostication, augury, auspice, boding, foreshadowing, omen and portent.

How do you use "Presage" in a sentence?

Examples of "Presage" in a sentence: "I had a nagging presage that the results of my medical tests would not be good"; "the sight of the first robin is always a welcome presage of spring"; "people used to believe that a comet presaged a major event, such as the death of a king".

Is "Presage" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Presage" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Presage"?

"Presage" is pronounced /ˈpre-sij/ and divided into syllables as pres·age.

What is the origin of the word "Presage"?

"Presage" comes from Middle English, from Latin praesagium, from praesagus having a foreboding, from prae- + sagus prophetic seek. First known use: 14th century.

What is another word for "Presage" meaning "a feeling that something bad will happen"?

When "Presage" (noun) means a feeling that something bad will happen, synonyms include foreboding, premonition, presentiment and prognostication.