auspice
Americannoun
plural
auspices-
Usually auspices patronage; support; sponsorship.
under the auspices of the Department of Education.
-
Often auspices a favorable sign or propitious circumstance.
-
a divination or prognostication, originally from observing birds.
noun
-
(usually plural) patronage or guidance (esp in the phrase under the auspices of )
-
(often plural) a sign or omen, esp one that is favourable
Etymology
Origin of auspice
First recorded in 1525–35; from French, from Latin auspicium “a bird-watching, divination from flight of birds,” equivalent to auspic- (stem of auspex ) + -ium -ium
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People were bemused earlier this year upon learning that former presidential candidate Mitt Romney had a sock puppet account – an account used to big oneself up, under the auspice of being someone else.
From The Guardian • Dec. 3, 2019
During that time, I felt sort of set free by living under Kelly Reichardt’s auspice.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2016
These games were developed by a special collaboration between scientists and game developers under the auspice of the Royal Society.
From The Guardian • Jul. 4, 2013
The word auspice, meaning sign or omen, is telescoped from the Latin words avis, bird, and specere, to see.
From Time Magazine Archive
The college of augurs ranked second only in importance to the pontifical college, and their duties with regard to both augury and auspice are sufficiently clear.
From The Religion of Ancient Rome by Bailey, Cyril
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
