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Although sages, being known for their great wisdom, are sometimes believed to possess the ability to predict the future, there is no connection between the noun sage and the verb presage, which means—as you’ve likely foreseen—“to foretell or predict.” While sage comes from the Latin verb sapere (“to be wise”), presage comes instead from a different Latin source: the adjective praesagus, a combination of the prefix prae and sagus, meaning “prophetic.” Presage entered English first as a noun referring to an omen, that is, something that foreshadows or portends a future event. A couple of centuries later it was joined by the verb, which is used for the action of foreshadowing, as in “the current economic slowdown could presage another recession,” and may apply to suggesting a coming event or indicating its likelihood.
Examples of presage in a Sentence
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
An index of 50 is balanced and presages neither economic expansion nor contraction.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Experts are already warning that there may not be enough fertilizer for the next harvest season, presaging lower yields and higher prices.
—Judd Devermont, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for presage
Cite this Entry
“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presage. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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