presage
C2Formal, literary
Definition
Meaning
To be a sign or warning that something, typically something bad, will happen.
Also a noun meaning an omen or a portent, especially of a future misfortune. Can be used neutrally, but often carries a negative connotation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb form can be transitive (e.g., 'to presage trouble') or intransitive (e.g., 'events presaged by omens'). The noun often appears with modifiers like 'sinister', 'dire', 'evil'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Used more in literary contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly archaic/formal in both. American usage might be slightly more common in historical or journalistic contexts to describe foreboding events.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech for both. More likely found in writing, particularly historical analysis, literature, or sophisticated commentary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Noun + presage + Noun (The clouds presage a storm)It + presage + that-clause (It presaged that the alliance would fail)Noun + be presaged + by + Noun (The collapse was presaged by months of unrest)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A presage of things to come”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in analysis: 'The sudden drop in consumer confidence presaged a deeper recession.'
Academic
Common in historical/literary studies: 'The comet was interpreted as a presage of the emperor's death.'
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound overly formal.
Technical
Not used in standard technical fields. May appear in meteorology or forecasting metaphorically.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The darkening skies seemed to presage a torrential downpour.
- His early writings presaged the political turmoil that was to come decades later.
American English
- The sudden stock market dip may presage a broader economic correction.
- Her silence presaged a sharp change in the company's strategy.
adverb
British English
- There is no commonly used adverb form of 'presage'.
- N/A
American English
- There is no commonly used adverb form of 'presage'.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- There is no commonly used adjective form of 'presage'.
- N/A
American English
- There is no commonly used adjective form of 'presage'.
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The strange bird call was a presage of bad luck in the old story.
- The first cold winds presage the coming of winter.
- Economic analysts saw the housing slump as a dire presage of a full-blown financial crisis.
- The novel's opening scene subtly presages the tragic ending.
- The diplomat's cryptic remarks were interpreted by many as a presage of imminent military action.
- Scholars argue that the cultural shifts of the 1960s presaged the digital revolution in communication.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'PRE-SAGE' – a wise person (a sage) who can see things BEFORE (pre) they happen.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE IS A LANDSCAPE AHEAD (we see signs of it before we arrive). OMENS ARE MESSENGERS FROM THE FUTURE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'пресса' (press).
- The closest direct translation is 'предзнаменование' (noun) / 'предвещать' (verb), which are also literary.
- Avoid using as a common synonym for 'предсказывать' (predict); 'presage' is more specific and ominous.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing it as /priːˈseɪdʒ/ (like 'prestige').
- Using it in casual contexts where 'suggest' or 'signal' would be more natural.
- Confusing the noun and verb forms in sentence structure (e.g., 'He felt a presage' vs. 'He presaged').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'presage' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly used with negative or ominous events (doom, disaster, trouble). Neutral use (e.g., 'presage change') is possible but less frequent.
'Predict' is neutral and general. 'Presage' is more literary and implies a sign or omen, often sensed rather than logically deduced, and carries a stronger sense of foreboding.
It would sound very formal or pretentious. Words like 'signal', 'suggest', 'warn of', or 'point to' are more natural in everyday speech.
The standard pronunciation is /ˈprɛs.ɪdʒ/ (PRES-ij), with the stress on the first syllable. A common mistake is to pronounce it like 'prestige' (/preˈstiːʒ/).