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auspice

 - 2 dictionary results

aus⋅pice

  [aw-spis]
–noun, plural aus⋅pic⋅es  [aw-spuh-siz] .
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.
Use auspice in a Sentence
Origin:
1525–35; < F < L auspicium a bird-watching, divination from flight of birds, equiv. to auspic- (s. of auspex ) + -ium -ium
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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aus·pice   (ô'spĭs)   
n.   pl. aus·pi·ces (ô'spĭ-sĭz, -sēz')

  1. also auspices Protection or support; patronage.

  2. A sign indicative of future prospects; an omen: Auspices for the venture seemed favorable.

  3. Observation of and divination from the actions of birds.


[Latin auspicium, bird divination, auspices, from auspex, auspic-, bird augur; see awi- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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