The Supremes delivered a unanimous decision today saying the government may be liable for damages if it deliberately floods land by releasing water stored behind a dam. Stressing the limited nature of the decision, Justice Ginsburg wrote, “Today’s modest decision augurs no deluge of takings liability.”
The jokey use of “deluge” is pretty good, but the casual use of the word “augur” is what really kicks me in the head. I should read more from her if this is her style. Would one suppose she breaks out words like augur in everyday conversation?