| / English Dictionary |
OMEN
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A sign of something about to happen
Example:
he looked for an omen before going into battle
Synonyms:
omen; portent; presage; prodigy; prognostic; prognostication
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("omen" is a kind of...):
augury; foretoken; preindication; sign (an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "omen"):
auspice (a favorable omen)
foreboding (an unfavorable omen)
death knell (an omen of death or destruction)
Derivation:
omen (indicate, as with a sign or an omen)
ominous (presaging ill fortune)
ominous (threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Indicate, as with a sign or an omen
Example:
These signs bode bad news
Synonyms:
augur; auspicate; betoken; bode; forecast; foreshadow; foretell; omen; portend; predict; prefigure; presage; prognosticate
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "omen" is one way to...):
bespeak; betoken; indicate; point; signal (be a signal for or a symptom of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "omen"):
threaten (to be a menacing indication of something)
foreshow (foretell by divine inspiration)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Derivation:
omen (a sign of something about to happen)
Context examples:
A stealthy glance now and then refreshed her like sips of fresh water after a dusty walk, for the sidelong peeps showed her several propitious omens.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I take it as a good omen for the future and invite you to my wedding on the spot, answered Mr. Brooke, who felt at peace with all mankind, even his mischievous pupil.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Sunshine and laughter were good omens for a pleasure party, and soon a lively bustle began in both houses.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
There was a little quiver in Jo's voice, and thinking it a good omen, Laurie turned round, bringing all his persuasive powers to bear as he said, in the wheedlesome tone that had never been so dangerously wheedlesome before, Don't disappoint us, dear!
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
In a minute Amy went back to her place, and while she dried her tears, Laurie gathered up the scattered papers, finding in the sight of sundry well-worn letters and suggestive sketches good omens for the future.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
The pale roses Amy gave him were the sort that the Italians lay in dead hands, never in bridal wreaths, and for a moment he wondered if the omen was for Jo or for himself, but the next instant his American common sense got the better of sentimentality, and he laughed a heartier laugh than Amy had heard since he came.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
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