Augural

Relating to or serving as an omen or a sign, especially of good or bad fortune; predictive. Derived from the practice of augury, which was the ancient Roman practice of interpreting omens from the flight and behavior of birds. The Augural process was used to foresee future events or to seek divine guidance, with these omens interpreted by a specific type of priest called an augur. The term now extends beyond avian omens to encompass any event or situation that suggests a future outcome, often with a sense of foresight or prophecy. It describes something that foreshadows, portends, or indicates what is to come, acting as a harbinger or a premonition of the future.

Augural meaning with examples

• The unexpected early blooming of the cherry blossoms was seen as an Augural sign of a particularly prosperous spring, filling the farmers with hope. This Augural event, along with an unusually mild winter, sparked predictions of bountiful harvests and successful market seasons.
• A sudden increase in job applications, coupled with positive economic forecasts, provided an Augural hint of a recovery in the local economy. Businesses were cautiously optimistic, using this Augural shift in the market to consider expansion plans and new hiring strategies.
• The detective studied the cryptic clues at the crime scene, seeking an Augural glimpse into the perpetrator's motives and methods. His investigations, looking for an Augural thread to pull, were aimed at constructing a timeline of events and predicting the killer's next move.
• The author's first novel, lauded by critics and embraced by readers, was considered an Augural promise of a brilliant literary career. It gave an Augural inkling that there was greater talent that was in bloom, and many publishers bid for the opportunity to represent her in further works.
• Despite the team's poor performance, a series of well-executed plays in the final minutes offered an Augural suggestion of a potential comeback. The fans, grasping at straws, hoped this Augural sign was the beginning of an unexpected turn of fortunes and a victory.