auspice

noun

aus·​pice ˈȯ-spəs How to pronounce auspice (audio)
plural auspices ˈȯ-spə-səz How to pronounce auspice (audio)
-ˌsēz
1
auspices plural : kindly patronage and guidance
doing research under the auspices of the local historical society
2
: a prophetic sign
especially : a favorable sign
3
: observation by an augur especially of the flight and feeding of birds to discover omens

Examples of auspice in a Sentence

a program for inner-city youths that is under the auspices of a national corporation interpreted the teacher's smile as an auspice that he would get an A on his presentation
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Campbell—who first played Ash under the auspice of writer-director Raimi and producer Tapert on 1981’s The Evil Dead—said metal music wasn’t the only thing that the general public was paranoid about in the 1980s. Tim Lammers, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 If the Games were to combine under the auspice of true inclusion, where everyone competes together side by side, Paralympic swimmers would struggle to make it through the heat rounds, and basketball would be impossible. Jessica Smith, TIME, 29 July 2024 As part of the pact, the streamer and studio will finance and release movies from Stuber’s new production company under United Artists, a languishing label that once operated under the auspice of MGM. Brent Lang, Variety, 26 July 2024 Instead, it was contested under auspice of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024 Armani also reportedly set up a small charitable foundation in 2016 under the auspice of developing it with capital from the company following his passing. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 15 Nov. 2023 However, there is no context that validates the use of this term in relation to progress without disregarding the brutal reality of what happened in this country’s history under the auspice of Manifest Destiny. Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2018 The funds were raised under the auspice of Tulane's $1.3 billion fundraising campaign. . . . . . . . Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, NOLA.com, 16 Jan. 2018 Scientists have been fascinated by this work because this phenomenon was predicted a century ago under the auspice of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. Diana Samuels, NOLA.com, 22 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from Latin auspicium "augury from the behavior of birds, leadership, authority," from auspic-, auspex "augur taking omens from birds (from avis "bird" + -spic-, -spex, derivative of specere "to see, observe") + -ium, deverbal suffix of function or state — more at aviary, spy entry 1

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of auspice was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near auspice

Cite this Entry

“Auspice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auspice. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

auspice

noun
aus·​pice ˈȯ-spəs How to pronounce auspice (audio)
plural auspices -spə-səz How to pronounce auspice (audio)
-ˌsēz
1
: predicting the future especially according to the flight of birds
2
: omen
especially : a favorable sign
3
plural : support and guidance of a sponsor
a concert given under the auspices of the school
Etymology

from Latin auspicium "auspice," derived from avis "bird" and specere "to look at" — related to aviary, expect, spectacle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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