Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Presenting favorable circumstances or showing signs of a favorable outcome; propitious.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of good omen; betokening success, or a favorable issue; prognosticating good; favorable.
  • Prosperous; fortunate: applied to persons.
  • Favorable; kind; propitious: applied to persons or things.
  • Showing joy; happy.
  • Synonyms Bright, golden, lucky, promising. See propitious.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Having omens or tokens of a favorable issue; giving promise of success, prosperity, or happiness; predicting good.
  • adjective Prosperous; fortunate.
  • adjective Favoring; favorable; propitious; -- applied to persons or things.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of good omen; indicating future success.
  • adjective Conducive to success.
  • adjective Marked by success; prosperous.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective auguring favorable circumstances and good luck

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From auspice +‎ -ious, from Latin auspicium ("augury"), from Latin auspex ("augur"), possibly via French.

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Examples

  • “Well, that's something of an auspicious start, but that's why they have the phrase auspicious start, because one often starts that way,” I said, trying to cover up my embarrassment for the sloppy turn.

    Wake Up, Sir! Jonathan Ames 2004

  • In the Tibetan tradition, I later learned, offering a white silk scarf called a khata is an expression of auspicious intentions at the beginning of a relationship.

    Manifesting Michelangelo Joseph Pierce Farrell 2011

  • Maniacal laughter from inside the Matthew-Cave seems to indicate that something auspicious is happening.

    Hero History: Coming Attractions | Major Spoilers - Comic Book Reviews and News 2009

  • In the Tibetan tradition, I later learned, offering a white silk scarf called a khata is an expression of auspicious intentions at the beginning of a relationship.

    Manifesting Michelangelo Joseph Pierce Farrell 2011

  • A new study sponsored by the World Bank seems to offer empirical support for this belief: it finds that Vietnamese children born in auspicious years enjoy better health and higher education levels than those born in unlucky years.

    Primary Sources 2006

  • In a horoscope-conscious society, they argue, children born in auspicious years are more likely to have been planned for, and are more likely to reap the benefits of “favorable financial, psychological, or emotional conditions” than their unplanned-for peers.

    Primary Sources 2006

  • A new study sponsored by the World Bank seems to offer empirical support for this belief: it finds that Vietnamese children born in auspicious years enjoy better health and higher education levels than those born in unlucky years.

    The Atlantic :: Magazine :: 2006

  • A new study sponsored by the World Bank seems to offer empirical support for this belief: it finds that Vietnamese children born in auspicious years enjoy better health and higher education levels than those born in unlucky years.

    Primary Sources 2006

  • In a horoscope-conscious society, they argue, children born in auspicious years are more likely to have been planned for, and are more likely to reap the benefits of “favorable financial, psychological, or emotional conditions” than their unplanned-for peers.

    The Atlantic :: Magazine :: 2006

  • In a horoscope-conscious society, they argue, children born in auspicious years are more likely to have been planned for, and are more likely to reap the benefits of “favorable financial, psychological, or emotional conditions” than their unplanned-for peers.

    Primary Sources 2006

Comments

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  • One of the Dali Lama's advisors used this word when they were talking about the date for his enthronement.

    June 12, 2012

  • favorable, the opposite of sinister

    Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike’s road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile.

    October 11, 2016