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auspicious

[aw-spish-uh s]
See more synonyms for auspicious on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable: an auspicious occasion.
  2. favored by fortune; prosperous; fortunate.
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Origin of auspicious

1600–10; < Latin auspici(um) auspice + -ous
Related formsaus·pi·cious·ly, adverbaus·pi·cious·ness, nounun·aus·pi·cious, adjectiveun·aus·pi·cious·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for auspiciously

Historical Examples

  • It was a revolting ending for an adventure that had started so auspiciously.

    Creatures of Vibration

    Harl Vincent

  • "But the good work has been most auspiciously inaugurated," continued Lyman.

    The Octopus

    Frank Norris

  • Thus the autumn manœuvres of Miss Norsham opened most auspiciously.

  • Of the year entered so auspiciously, none dreamt what the end was to be.

    Abbotsford

    Anonymous

  • As a prelude to other good times Train Day sports were carried on auspiciously.

    Jane Allen: Center

    Edith Bancroft

British Dictionary definitions for auspiciously

auspicious

adjective
  1. favourable or propitious
  2. archaic prosperous or fortunate
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Derived Formsauspiciously, adverbauspiciousness, noun

usage

The use of auspicious to mean `very special' (as in this auspicious occasion) should be avoided
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for auspiciously

auspicious

adj.

1590s, "of good omen" (implied in auspiciously), from Latin auspicium "divination by observing the flight of birds," from auspex (genitive auspicis) + -ous.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper