noun, plural aus·pic·es /ˈɔ
spə
sɪz/ Show Spelled [aw-spuh-siz] Show IPA . 1.Usually, auspices. patronage; support; sponsorship: under the auspices of the Department of Education.
2.Often, auspices. a favorable sign or propitious circumstance.
3.a divination or prognostication, originally from observing birds.
Origin: 1525–35; <
French <
Latin auspicium a bird-watching, divination from flight of birds, equivalent to
auspic- (stem of
auspex) +
-ium -ium