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Where does the word "omen" come from? It comes from Latin omen, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "omen" come from? It comes from Latin omen, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
Omen’s story begins in Latin: omen meant “foreboding sign.” Possibly from an old word for 'what is heard'. It reached English by 1580s as omen. 'ominous' follows from it. Today, omen means a sign of future good or evil.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient omen "foreboding sign", possibly from an old word for 'what is heard'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1580s omen "portent", 'ominous' follows from it.