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Glite Dictionary
propitious

propitious

5 8.4
Likely to help something succeed
  • adjective
  • /prəˈpɪʃəs/
  • Formal
translation icon : propicio
  • Many entrepreneurs believe that the current economic climate is propitious for starting a new business.
  • a propitious moment
  • a propitious time
  • propitious conditions

Examples

  • A consensus is beginning to take shape in Washington that it is a propitious time for such a review.

    Academic text (2000)

  • To be effective, mediation must take place at a propitious moment in the life cycle of a conflict.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The moment was not propitious.

    The Wicked Lady (1983)

  • The fall of 1987 was a propitious time to be a political scientist in China.

    Academic text (1990)

  • The timing of his interest in the growth of organized crime was propitious for the Bureau.

    Academic text (2015)

  • And Ramadan is seen as a particularly propitious time for spiritual development and and prayer.

  • If remaining obstacles are overcome, the future of Sino-Latin American relations will be extremely propitious for both.

    Academic text (1997)

  • The timing of the Detroit NARB gathering was propitious in this respect.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Moreover, it appears that the Supreme Court has signaled that conditions are propitious for challenging this parliamentary device.

    Academic text (1997)

  • The air is warm, propitious; our pilgrimage feels dreamlike in this vaguely etched landscape.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

favorable
vspropitious
  • US
73 3.1

Giving an advantage that makes success more likely

focuses more on indicating overall good chance rather than specific advantage
auspicious
vspropitious
  • Formal
22 7.3

Showing a good sign that something will succeed

is a general sign that success is likely rather than only luck
prosperous
vspropitious
  • Archaic
3 5.1

A good sign that things will go well

is similar but applies more to helpful conditions and chance

Antonyms

unfavorable
  • US
31 4.5

Not good for success or approval

inauspicious
4 8.1

Likely to bring bad luck and make success unlikely

unpropitious
9.3

Not likely to succeed or have a good result

How Favorable

auspicious
  • Formal
22 7.3
propitious
  • Formal
5 8.4
favorable
  • US
73 3.1
promising
203 3.1

Surface Forms

propitious positive
propitiously positive

Morphology

propitious = propiti + ous

Although the suffix '-ous' is productive, the stem 'propiti-' is not a recognizable modern English base, so learners cannot reliably derive the meaning from its parts.

Etymology

Propitious comes from the Latin word propitius, which meant 'favourable' or 'gracious', and is related to the English verb propitiate ('to win favour'). So, a propitious time or sign is one that seems to give a good chance of success.