OMEN, a sign or prognostication of future events, supposed to be an intimation from a superior power. According to Varro (` De Ling. Lat.; lib. v. c. 7), the word is derived from the language of a person speaking : " Omen, quod ex are primum datum est, °amen dictum ;" which was also the opinion of Cicero (' De Divin.; i., c., 45), who says, " Noque solum Door= voces Pythagorsei observitaverunt, sed etiam hominum, glue vocant anise" (the Pythagoreans attended to the words not only of gods hut also of men, which they milled omens). The terns afterwards comprehended all signs of future events.
In all probability there is no nation that has not at some time enter tained a belief In omens. Wo find traces of it in the Scriptures. Among the Greeks and Romans it was general. The Persians, the Arabians, the Scandinavians, the Germans, the Icelanders, the ancient Britons, were all imbued with this superstition ; as were also the early Christians.
Many curious instances of Roman superstition with reference to omen* are enumerated In Pliny (xxxviii. 2). The unlucky omens which preceded the bottle of Canine are enumerated by Silius Italicus, lib. viii, v. 626, &e. ; see also Lucas i., v. b22, &c. Pausaniaa (iv. 13) enumerates the omens which announced the fate of the Messenians in their struggle with the Laccehenioniane. Suctonium (' Jul.,' § 59) says
that Caesar, in landing at Adruniettun In Africa with bis army, happened to fall on his face, which was reckoned a bad omen ; but, with great presence of mind, he laid hold of the ground with Isis right hand, and kissing it as if he had fallen on purpose, he exclaimed, ' Tonto te, Africa" (I take pleieaceeiou of thee, 0 Africa). A similar story told of William the Conqueror, on landing at Pevenscy.
Omens have been frequently spoken of with contempt by men of talent. Homer makes Hector say . Without a sign his sword the brace man draws, And asks no omen hut his country's cause." 11'ythers, in his ' Abuses script and whipt,' and Drydeu and Lee in his act iv., Sc. 1, satirise this superstition. Butler quently alludes to omens in his Hudibrasr and by no writer have they been snore successfully ridiculed than by Oay in his fable of the ' Farmer's Wife and the Raven.' A superstitious regard to omens in our own country formerly made a considerable addition to the stock of human misery. Generally speaking, see now look back with indifference on the trivial and ridiculous accidents which alternately afforded matter of joy or sorrow to our ancestors. Nevertheless, in many country places, a superstitious regard to omens still exists.