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auspicious

auspicious

22 7.3
Showing a good sign that something will succeed
  • adjective
  • /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/
  • Formal
translation icon : propicio
  • Up close, I see Mehli sitting on his stool, conducting an auspicious gathering of pubescent musicians.
  • an auspicious day
  • an auspicious beginning
  • an auspicious event

Hello and welcome everyone to this auspicious occasion.

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Examples

  • Given this reform climate, it is an auspicious time to explore alternatives for EE professional development.

    Academic text (1996)
  • This has the potential to be an auspicious partnership.

  • The end of the Cold War offers an auspicious opportunity for building peace.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Hello and welcome everyone to this auspicious occasion.

  • - This is a very auspicious occasion.

  • [James] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this most auspicious day, my campaign launch.

  • Planets indicate the 1Oth would be an auspicious date for the wedding.

  • I was really humbled to be added to such an auspicious list of outstanding contributors to photography.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Finally, recent global and continental pro-democracy trends provide a generally auspicious setting for democracy in Ghana.

    Academic text (1991)
  • We believe this is an auspicious moment for new beginnings.

Synonyms

lucky
vsauspicious
1.0

Having good things happen by chance

suggests a future success rather than occurring by chance
fortunate
vsauspicious
20 2.0

Likely to bring a good result

suggests a favorable result rather than focusing on chance happenings
propitious
vsauspicious
  • Formal
5 8.4

Likely to help something succeed

indicates favorable circumstances rather than promising success
prosperous
vsauspicious
  • Archaic
3 5.1

A good sign that things will go well

suggests a favorable outcome rather than promising it

Antonyms

31 4.5

Not good for success or approval

4 8.1

Likely to bring bad luck and make success unlikely

How Favorable

propitious
  • Formal
5 8.4
auspicious
  • Formal
22 7.3
promising
203 3.1

Surface Forms

auspicious positive
auspiciouser comparative
auspiciousest superlative

Morphology

auspicious = auspice (opaque) = auspice + ious

Although formed historically from the noun 'auspice' plus a Latinate adjectival ending, 'auspice' is rare and the semantic shift to 'favorable' is not obvious to most learners.

Etymology

Auspicious comes from a Latin idea of reading bird signs: an auspex was a person who watched birds and avis means 'bird', so they looked to birds to see if the future was good. So, something 'auspicious' is like a sign from the birds that things will go well, which is why it means 'likely to succeed' or 'lucky'.