Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sign or warning that something, typically something momentous or calamitous, is about to happen; an omen. It refers to an event or phenomenon seen as a portent of a future occurrence.
   • A strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant; a foreboding. It refers to an intuitive anticipation or apprehension about the future.

2. Verb:

   • To be a sign or warning that (something, typically something momentous or calamitous) is about to happen. It means to portend or foreshadow.
   • To have a presentiment of (a future event). It means to sense or feel in advance.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The sudden silence was a presage of the storm to come.
  • She felt a strange presage of doom as she entered the old house.

• Verb:

  • The dark clouds presage heavy rain.
  • His sudden resignation may presage major changes in the company.

Advanced Usage

• "to have a presage of/that...": to have a foreboding or premonition about something.
  • She had a presage that the journey would end badly.
• Used in formal or literary contexts to describe ominous signs or feelings about future events.

Variants and Related Words

• Presagement (n, rare): The action of presaging; a portent or foreboding.
• Presager (n, rare): A person or thing that presages.
• Presaging (adj): Serving to presage; portentous.

Synonyms

• Noun: Omen, portent, augury, foreboding, premonition, harbinger, sign, warning.
• Verb: Portend, augur, foreshadow, foretell, bode, prophesy, predict, herald, forewarn.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "A presage of things to come": An indication or warning of future events.
  • The economic downturn was a presage of things to come for the industry.
• "To presage well/ill": To be a good or bad omen for the future.
  • His confident attitude presaged well for the success of the project.

Noun

1. a sign of something about to happen
   • he looked for an omen before going into battle
2. a foreboding about what is about to happen

Verb

1. indicate by signs
   • These signs bode bad news