Auspicious Meaning
/ɔːˈspɪ.ʃəs/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf good omen; indicating future success.
adjConducive to success.
Sentence Examples
His own debut would be far less auspicious.
It's an auspicious time to launch a new organization.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The wedding began under an ____ sky with bright sunshine and singing birds.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bright sunny day was an ____ start to our long camping trip.
Word Origin & History
From auspice + -ious, from Latin auspicium (“augury”), from auspex (“augur”), possibly via French.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It was a boast of Napoleon, that the very weather owned the influence of his auspicious star—his triumphal entry, his procession, or his fête, were always marked by sunshine."
— 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 130:
"Backed by the Salsoul Orchestra, Carol's auspicious single debut, "More," was one of the very first commercially-available 12" singles and was a smash, reaching the upper regions of the disco charts in 1976."
— 2013, James Arena, First Ladies of Disco - 32 Stars Discuss the Era and Their Singing Careers, page 232:
"Losing nearly a third of the heavy cruisers, including Admiral Kurita's flagship, the Atago, was not an especially-auspicious start to the operation, especially with the admiral himself having to be fished out of the water by a destroyer."
— 2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 5:34 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2022:
"Therefore our ſometimes Siſter, novv our Queen, / Th’ imperiall Ioyntreſſe of this vvarlike State, / Haue vve, as ’tvvere, vvith a defeated ioy, / VVith one Auſpicious, and one Dropping eye, / VVith mirth in Funerall, and vvith Dirge in Marriage, / In equall Scale vveighing Delight and Dole / Taken to VVife […]"
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 153, column 2, lines 8–14:
"Sure, ſuch a Day as this vvas never ſeen! / The Sun himſelf, on this auſpicious Day, / Shines like a Beau in a nevv Birth-Day Suit: […]"
— 1730 May 5 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Henry Fielding, Tom Thumb. A Tragedy. […], London: […] J. Roberts […], published 1730, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The wedding began under an ____ sky with bright sunshine and singing birds.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bright sunny day was an ____ start to our long camping trip.