1.
[syn: bode, portend, auspicate, prognosticate, omen, presage, betoken, foreshadow, augur, foretell, prefigure, forecast, predict]
2. commence in a manner calculated to bring good luck;
- Example: "They auspicated the trip with a bottle of champagne"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Auspicate \Aus"pi*cate\, v. t.
1. To foreshow; to foretoken. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
[1913 Webster]
2. To give a favorable turn to in commencing; to inaugurate;
-- a sense derived from the Roman practice of taking the
auspicium, or inspection of birds, before undertaking any
important business.
[1913 Webster]
They auspicate all their proceedings. --Burke.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Auspicate \Aus"pi*cate\, a. [L. auspicatus, p. p. of auspicari
to take auspices, fr. auspex a bird seer, an augur, a contr.
of avispex; avis bird + specere, spicere, to view. See
Aviary, Spy.]
Auspicious. [Obs.] --Holland.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
auspicate
v 1: indicate by signs; "These signs bode bad news" [syn:
bode, portend, auspicate, prognosticate, omen,
presage, betoken, foreshadow, augur, foretell,
prefigure, forecast, predict]
2: commence in a manner calculated to bring good luck; "They
auspicated the trip with a bottle of champagne"