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Where does the word "auspicious" come from? It comes from Latin auspicium, and was adopted directly into English (1590s).
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Where does the word "auspicious" come from? It comes from Latin auspicium, and was adopted directly into English (1590s).
Auspicious’s story begins in Latin: auspicium meant “the practice of bird-watching for omens.” Literally bird-watching, from avis (bird) and specere (to look), a Roman method of divination. It reached English by 1590s as auspicious. Broadened from favorable omens read from birds to anything promising. Today, auspicious means showing signs that future success is likely, favorable.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient auspicium "the practice of bird-watching for omens", literally bird-watching, from avis (bird) and specere (to look), a Roman method of divination.
- Stage 2 · English · 1590s auspicious "showing signs of future success", broadened from favorable omens read from birds to anything promising.