{"id":10481,"date":"2022-11-16T22:54:27","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T22:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=10481"},"modified":"2022-11-16T22:55:37","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T22:55:37","slug":"augurs-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/augurs-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Augurs \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you watching the Speaker of the House discuss White House policy? You could say she's an \"augur\" <\/em><\/strong>of the modern age. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

An \"augur\"<\/em> originally meant a person connected to the divine that could foretell the future.<\/u> They would look at the environment and interpret the movements of animals and the growth of plants to determine future events shaping public awareness and experience.<\/u><\/p>\n

The augur<\/em> would look to the heavens and use the constellations to predict future events<\/u>, similar to astrologists today. However, the modern use <\/u>of \"augur\"<\/em> refers to someone in a position of power that shapes public policy.<\/u><\/p>\n

For instance, government officials that shape public policy, such as mayors, senators, and presidents,<\/u> qualify for the title of \"augur.\"<\/em> An augur <\/em>can also refer to celebrities or people with influence shaping people's thoughts about a specific subject matter.<\/u><\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\"The augurs are out there shaping public policy again. They act like they have the best intentions for the people, but the reality is they make up the rules to benefit themselves.\"<\/p>\n

\"We'll have to see what the augers have in store for us this election season. They're warmongering idiots that don't care about the people.\"<\/p>\n

\"The augers claim they have our best interests at heart and want to see the poor get lifted out of poverty. In reality, they cut takes for the rich and make it harder on the little guy to get by in life.\"<\/p>\n

\"The augurs of the world meet at Davos to discuss how we need to be greener and cut emissions. They fly there on private planes and eat wagyu steak while they tell us to eat bugs and walk more.\"<\/p>\n

\"The augurs of the world don't care about the poor and middle class. They shape policy that makes it easier for them to avoid taxes and live better lives while the rest of us suffer.\"<\/p>\n

\"I don't follow what the augurs of the planet tell me to do. Those people can go jump off a bridge.\"<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The term \u201caugur\u2019s\u201d originates from Latin in the 1540s. It first appears in roman times, describing a Roman with the duty of observing and interpreting auspices and natural signs to read future events. It\u2019s similar to the ancient Egyptian equivalent of a \u201cPharisee.\u201d<\/p>\n

The meaning of the term stayed the same throughout the centuries. However, the people it referred to changed over time. It\u2019s unclear when \u201caugur\u201d started referring to people in the modern era who shape public policy, such as politicians.<\/p>\n

There are no records of who coined the term in this regard or its use in the modern context of the saying.<\/p>\n