† ominatev.
Obsolete.
1. transitive. To interpret as a divine omen.
ΚΠ
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 55 By the God enstructed..to ominat eeche thing.
2.
a. transitive. To be an omen or sign of; to presage, betoken.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > an omen, sign, portent > portend, betoken [verb (transitive)]
betokenc1275
bode1387
prognostica1400
pretend1402
prognosticate?a1425
ossc1450
importc1487
prognostify1495
protendc1554
presage1562
abode1573
boden1573
denounce1581
importune1590
prejudicate1595
foretoken1598
ominate1598
auspicate1604
divine1607
foredeem1612
warranta1616
augur1630
preaugurate1635
prewarna1637
prenote1641
preominate1646
forespeak1667
omen1697
betidea1799
bespeak1851
1598 R. Barckley Disc. Felicitie of Man iii. 176 This vnfortunate birde [sc. an owl]..ominating some euill to follow.
1644 Fifth of November 12 If the staggaring of the Arke of Gods worship should ominate the fall of it.
1660 G. Mackenzie Aretina i. 68 At last came that week and day so much longed-for, whose bright morning ominated happinesse to the longing couple.
1827 J. Galt Let. in Ann. Parish (1850) p. xlvii I had no vultures to omenate wars and conquests.
b. intransitive. To be or serve as an omen.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > an omen, sign, portent > portend, betoken [verb (intransitive)]
ossc1400
sign1601
abode1659
ominate1667
prognosticate1851
portend1887
1667 R. Allestree Causes Decay Christian Piety xv. 360 And this is it which ominates sadly as to our divisions with the Romanists.
1691 R. North Let. 31 Dec. in Lives of Norths (1890) III. App. 228 May the new year be better than the beginning ominates. My brother Dudley died last night about seven.
3.
a. transitive. To prognosticate from omens; to foretell.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > augury, divination from omens > augur, divine from omens [verb (transitive)]
conjecturec1384
conject1496
augurate1571
augur1593
augurize1596
ominate1599
portend1605
ariolate1652
tell1891
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe Ep. Ded. sig. A3 A King thou art by name, and a King of good fellowshippe by nature, whereby I ominate this Encomion of the king of fishes was predestinate to thee from thy swadling clothes.
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 327 The Augurs ominating disastrous and unfortunate things to the Romane army.
1742 C. Middleton Let. 17 Aug. in E. J. Climenson Elizabeth Montagu (1906) I. 119 To whom I have ever been wishing and ominating every-thing that is good.
b. intransitive. To conjecture from signs or omens; to have or utter forebodings.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > augury, divination from omens > augur, divine from omens [verb (intransitive)]
conject1496
halsen1587
preominate1594
augurize1596
augur1599
signa1616
ominate1637
augurate1642
conjecture1652
auspicate1848
1637 T. Heywood Dial. ii, in Wks. (1874) VI. 127 Of doubtfull things thus ill you ominate.
1667 H. More Divine Dialogues (1713) ii. i. 88 I cannot ominate so well touching this Congress.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > an omen, sign, portent > [adjective]
prognosticate?a1425
prognostical?a1450
prognostaticc1475
portentousc1487
presagiousc1487
prodigiousc1487
prodigial1548
portending1560
augural1568
presaging1592
ominous1593
boding1594
portentive1594
prognostic1603
presageful1606
prognosticous1607
ostentful1608
prognosticant1619
predictious1631
portentful1633
ominal1651
ominating1663
bodeful1813
portentious1863
1663 G. Mackenzie Religio Stoici 108 These ominating presages.
1702 H. Dodwell Apol. in S. Parker tr. Cicero Five Bks. De Finibus sig. b6 This..filled them with confidence and well ominating Hopes.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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