Omen

Origin

Classical Latin ōmen something that foreshadows an event or the outcome of an event, of uncertain origin although it may be connected with the Latin word audire, meaning "to hear."

• 1582

Definition

• 1: an occurrence or phenomenon believed to portend a future event : augury

Description

An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change. Though the word "omen" is usually devoid of reference to the change's nature, hence being possibly either "good" or "bad", the term is more often used in a foreboding sense, as with the word "ominous".