n. [ OF. prisage a praising, valuing, taxing; cf. LL. prisagium prisage; or from F. prise a taking, capture, prize. See Prize. ] (O. Eng. Law) (a) A right belonging to the crown of England, of taking two tuns of wine from every ship importing twenty tuns or more, -- one before and one behind the mast. By charter of Edward I. butlerage was substituted for this. Blackstone. (b) The share of merchandise taken as lawful prize at sea which belongs to the king or admiral. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. présage, L. praesagium, from praesagire. See Presage, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Something which foreshows or portends a future event; a prognostic; an omen; an augury. “Joy and shout -- presage of victory.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Power to look the future, or the exercise of that power; foreknowledge; presentiment. [ 1913 Webster ]

If there be aught of presage in the mind. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Prognostic; omen; token; sign; presentiment. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Presaged p. pr. & vb. n. Presaging. ] [ F. présager, L. praesagire: prae before + sagire to perceive acutely or sharply. See Sagacious. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To have a presentiment of; to feel beforehand; to foreknow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To foretell; to predict; to foreshow; to indicate. [ 1913 Webster ]

My dreams presage some joyful news at hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To form or utter a prediction; -- sometimes used with of. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of presages; ominous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dark in the glass of some presageful mood. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act or art of presaging; a foreboding. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is presaged, or foretold. [ R. ] “Ominous presagement before his end. ” Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, presages; a foreteller; a foreboder. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]