Auspice
noun /ˈɔː.spɪs/ — A sign or omen; patronage and protection
Definition
An omen — originally derived from observing the behaviour of birds (augury). Also used in the phrase 'under the auspices of' meaning under the protection or patronage of.
Beyond the definition
The double meaning makes this word interesting: a favourable auspice is both a good sign and an indication of powerful protection. To begin something under good auspices is to have both fate and support on your side.
Origin & history
From Latin 'auspicium' — from 'auspex' (one who observes birds as omens) — 'avis' (bird) + 'specere' (to look). The Roman practice of reading the future in the behaviour of birds.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The project began under good auspices — funding in place, team aligned, timing right.
The original auspice was a bird: augurs watched flight patterns to determine whether enterprises should begin.
'Under the auspices of' means under protection — a phrase that carries the whole system of patronage within it.
Synonyms
Antonyms
ill omen, inauspicious
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Omen in the Light
A brilliant, single beam of sunlight breaks through dark clouds to strike a specific flower on a city balcony.
An auspice is an omen, originally derived from observing birds. The sudden, dramatic shaft of sunlight striking the flower acts as a visual analogy: it is a fleeting, auspicious sign that suggests the environment is sending a signal, much like an ancient omen interpreted from the behaviour of the natural world.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration