auspic-, auspec-

1. A religious official of ancient Rome; especially, one who interpreted omens based on the observation of birds to guide public policy: A Roman leader was usually accompanied by an auspex whose presence was supposed to determine if certain actions would bring good fortune or result in misfortune.
2. Etymology: from Latin avis, "bird" + specere, "to look, to see."

1. To begin or to inaugurate with a ceremony intended to bring good luck: Mr. and Mrs. Smith auspicated their 50th wedding anniversary with champagne before dinner, hoping that the years to follow would bring as much pleasure as the first 50 years.
2. To give a favorable turn when starting something; to inaugurate in a sense derived from the historical practice of observing birds in flight, before undertaking an important decision or action: The leaders of Rome usually auspicated their public activities before proceeding with them.

Regarding how something is in accordance with omens or prophetic signs: Rudolph and Sally sought the advice of a fortune teller who could auspicately determine if their big financial investment would be a success or a failure.

The process of getting favorable signs or receiving warnings of bad things that could happen: The feeling of auspications were evident when the tornadoes were seen approaching the area and the terrible destruction that followed fulfilled the prophetic threats that were observed.

Someone or something that predicts that an event will take place: The dark clouds and thunder were the auspicators that indicated a rainstorm was coming.

A reference to receiving favorable omens or signs for something that is about to take place: The auspicatory remarks, or medical prognosis, made by the doctor improved Susan's outlook for her life.

1. Protection or support; patronage: A benefit concert was given under the auspices of the hospital.
2. A sign indicative of future prospects; a favorable sign or propitious circumstance; an omen: The auspices for the new venture by the company appeared to be favorable.
3. 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".

Observations of and predictions that in the past were based on the actions or behaviors of birds.

Of or pertaining to a favorable sign or indicating that a future success is probable for an activity: James found that it was an auspicial decision to apply for a new job after his previous employment was terminated because the company he worked for was decreasing the number of workers they had for economic reasons.

To give a favorable result when a person or people start to do something: The electoral officials were hoping to auspiciate the election with the most efficient procedures possible.

A prophet or soothsayer who claims to know how to foretell events or to predict the future: Jacob consulted the local auspicinator to see if moving to another city to find employment would be a good idea.

1. Marked by lucky signs or good omens, and therefore by the promise of success, prosperity, or happiness: It was an auspicious occasion when Jim suddenly found such a good job during the time of high unemployment.
2. Attended by favorable circumstances; propitious: Since the company was making so much money, it seemed to be an auspicious time for Mike to ask for a raise in salary, especially since he was one of the most successful salesmen.
3. Refering to something that promises success; propitious; opportune; favorable: It was an auspicious occasion when Mark's and Mary's twins were born in two separate years. The first one was born one minute before midnight in 2013 and the other one was born one minute after midnight in 2014.
4. Concerning something favored by good fortune and prosperity: Because of her beautiful and unique art work, Madeline experienced more auspicious sales than she had ever experienced before.
5. Descriptive of a good omen or prophetic sign indicating, or suggesting, that future success is possible: It was an auspicious time for Randy's uncle to start his new business because there was a significant demand for the products he was producing.

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

In Roman times, an "augur" was a person who foretold the future by observing the birds flying in the sky. "Auspicium" became a divination (fortune telling) which involved watching the birds as they were soaring in the air and came from "auspex", someone who interprets signs from the movements 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, or predictions, had been determined.

By the time "inaugurare" reached English, as "inaugurate", the association with the divination of birds had been forgotten.

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

Later the Roman "auspex" was replaced with the term "augur" as the interpreter-observer of bird signs; his name being derived from the Latin avis, "bird", and garrire, "to talk" or "to explain".

The augur's interpretation, or "augurism", became the English word "augury", an omen (prophecy, prediction), 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 instead of consisting of political plots, schemes, and intrigues.

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Concerning a favorable omen, prospect, or result; fortunately, happily: Alfred was a very optimistic person and had prepared everything in detail for his trip. He started auspiciously on his trip to California, convinced that it would be a successful adventure.

The quality of having a favorable prospect for the future; a promise of success: Andrew was filled with auspiciousness, having had completed studying medicine at the university and receiving excellent grades. He was even offered a position as an assistant doctor at the local hospital.

The presaging or the predicting of future events that indicate what is supposed to take place: The break in the clouds was an auspicy of better weather.

In school, Ralph found out that in Roman times auspicy was practiced among people to find out how certain political situations were to be decided upon. Romulus and Remus, for example, decided to end their discussion about where to build the city of Rome by checking out how many vultures they saw while sitting on the ground.

To do a thing in an unfortunate way; to have ill luck: When taking the final test in German, Greg exauspicated in completing it because he couldn't concentrate that day, and got a poor grade!