auspic-, auspec- +

1. An augur of ancient Rome, especially one who interpreted omens derived from the observation of birds.
2. In ancient Rome, a religious official who interpreted omens to guide public policy.

1. To begin or to inaugurate with a ceremony intended to bring good luck.
2. To give a favorable turn to in commencing something; to inaugurate; a sense derived from the Roman practice of taking the auspicium, or inspection of birds, before undertaking any important business or function; such as, "They auspicate all their public proceedings."

In accordance with omens.

The taking of auspices, the process of getting favourable omens.

Someone who takes auspices, an augur.

Of or pertaining to auspication.

A favorable omen.

1. Protection or support; patronage.
2. A sign indicative of future prospects; a favorable sign or propitious circumstance; an omen: "The auspices for the new venture appeared to be favorable."
3. Observation of and divination from the actions of birds.
4. Divination or prognostication, originally from observing the behavior of birds.
5. Etymology: from Latin auspicium, "divination by observing the flight of birds"; from auspex, auspicis, literally, "bird seer"; from avis, "bird", and the stem of specere, spicere, "to see, to look at, to watch".

Of or pertaining to auspices; auspicious.

A variant of auspicate.

Plural form of auspex.

Auspicator, auspex.

1. Marked by lucky signs or good omens, and therefore by the promise of success, prosperity, or happiness.
2. Attended by favorable circumstances; propitious: "It seemed to be an auspicious time to ask for a raise in salary."
3. Promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable: "It was an auspicious occasion."
4. Favored by fortune; prosperous; fortunate.

Favorable omens came to be known as auspicious while unfavorable signs were considered inauspicious.

In Roman times, an augur was someone who foretold the future by observing the flight of birds (or by examining their entrails). Auspicium is divination (fortune telling) by observing the flights of birds and came from auspex, "someone who takes signs from the flight of birds".

A Latin derivative was the verb inaugurare "to foretell the future from the flight of birds", which was applied to the installation of someone in office after the appropriate omens had been determined; by the time it reached English as inaugurate, the association with the divination with birds had been forgotten.

An ancient Roman priest, or auspex, was appointed to foretell or divine the future outcome of an important event by observing the flights of birds, listening to their songs, observing the food they ate and by examining their internal organs.

Favorable omens came to be known as "auspicious" while unfavorable signs were considered to be "inauspicious".

Later the Roman auspex was replaced with the augur as the interpreter-observer of bird signs; his name being derived from the Latin avis, "bird", and garrire, "to talk" or "to tell". His interpretation, or augurism, became the English word augury, "an omen", and the Latin inaugurare, "to install an official after consulting the birds", became the word we use to install politicians in office with the hope that their "inaugurations" will prove to be auspicious for those who must endure their political machinations (plots and intrigues).

In an auspicious manner; with favorable omen, prospect, or result; fortunately, happily.

The quality of being auspicious; or a favorable prospect for the future, a promise of success.