Auspicious
adjective /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/ — Favorable; giving signs of future success.
Definition
Suggesting a good or promising start — indicating a positive outcome, especially as a matter of omen or fortunate circumstance. The auspicious beginning is the one that feels right.
Beyond the definition
Auspicious is the word for good signs. The origins are in bird-watching — augury, the reading of bird flight to predict outcomes. We no longer read birds, but we still read signs. An auspicious start is when everything feels like it's pointing in the right direction.
Origin & history
Latin 'auspicium' — divination by observing birds: 'avis' (bird) + 'specere' (to watch). Roman generals would not march without checking bird omens. The word is literally the practice of watching birds for signs.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
An auspicious beginning: the weather was perfect and everyone was in good humour.
She called it auspicious that they'd been assigned the same table — and she was right.
Not every auspicious start leads to success, but the absence of it is notable.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Auspicious” when the meaning fits your context: Suggesting a good or promising start — indicating a positive outcome, especially as a matter of omen or fortunate circumstance. The auspicious beginning is the one that feels right.
Synonyms
favorable, propitious, promising, fortunate
Antonyms
inauspicious, ominous, unfavorable
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Auspicious" mean?
Auspicious is adjective meaning: Favorable; giving signs of future success.. Suggesting a good or promising start — indicating a positive outcome, especially as a matter of omen or fortunate circumstance. The auspicious beginning is the one that feels right.
Where does the word "Auspicious" come from?
Latin 'auspicium' — divination by observing birds: 'avis' (bird) + 'specere' (to watch). Roman generals would not march without checking bird omens. The word is literally the practice of watching birds for signs.