omen (Noun; lemma: omen)
Meaning: An object or occurrence believed to portend or predict a future event , circumstance , situation , or state of affairs : an omen , a sign , a harbinger , a portent , a token Synonym: ōrāculum 45 BCE , Marcus Tullius Cicero , De Divinatione ; 1.46.103 : Atque ego exempla ominum nota proferam: L. Paulus consuliterum, cum ei bellum ut cum rege Perse gereret obtigisset, ut ea ipsa die domum ad vesperum rediit, filiolam suam Tertiam, quae tum erat admodum parva, osculans animum advertit tristiculam. 'Quid est', inquit, 'mea Tertia? quid tristis es?' 'Mi pater', inquit, 'Persa periit.' Tum ille artius puellam conplexus: 'Accipio', inquit, 'mea filia, omen . Erat autem mortuus catellus eo nomine. L. Flaccum, flaminem Martialem, ego audivi, cum diceret Caeciliam Metelli, cum vellet sororis suae filiam in matrimonium conlocare, exisse in quoddam sacellum ominis capiendi causa, quod fieri more veterum solebat. Cum virgo staret et Caecilia in sella sederet neque diu ulla vox exstitisset, puellam defatigatam petisse a matertera, ut sibi concederet, paulisper ut in eius sella requiesceret; illam autem dixisse: 'Vero, mea puella, tibi concedo meas sedes.' Quod omen res consecuta est; ipsa enim brevi mortua est, virgo autem nupsit, cui Caecilia nupta fuerat. Haec posse contemni vel etiam rideri praeclare intellego, sed id ipsum est deos non putare, quae ab iis significantur, contemnere. Now let me give some well-known examples of omens : When Lucius Paulus was consul the second time, and had been chosen to wage war against King Perses, upon returning home on the evening of the day on which he had been appointed, he noticed, as he kissed his little daughter Tertia (at that time a very small child), that she was rather sad. 'What is the matter, Tertia, my dear? Why are you sad?' 'Oh! father, Persa is dead.' Paulus clasped the child in a closer embrace and said, 'Daughter, I accept that as an sign . Now, 'Persa' was the name of a little puppy that had died. I heard Lucius Flaccus,​ the high priest of Mars, relate the following story: Metellus' daughter, Caecilia, who was desirous of arranging a marriage for her sister's daughter, went, according to the ancient custom, to a small chapel to receive an omen. A long time passed while the maiden stood and Caecilia was seated on a chair without any word being spoken. Finally, the former grew weary and said to her aunt: 'Let me sit awhile on your chair.' 'Certainly, my child,' said Caecilia, 'you may have my place.' And this was a sign of what came to pass, for in a short time Caecilia died and the girl married her aunt's husband. I realize perfectly well that these omens may be lightly regarded and even be laughed at, but to make light of signs sent by the gods is nothing less than to disbelieve in the existence of the gods. ~101 CE , Decimus Junius Juvenalis , Saturae ; Satura 4, lines 123-125 : non cedit Veiiento, sed ut fanaticus oestro	/ percussus, Bellona, tuo diuinat et "ingens / omen habes" inquit "magni clarique triumphi..." Veiientus yields not, but as one inspired by the maddening / influence of the goddess Bellona, prophesies. "A mighty / token this you possess" he says "of some great and illustrious triumph..."