auspicate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb indicate by signs
    omen; prefigure; bode; betoken; portend; foreshadow; predict; foretell; augur; prognosticate; forecast; presage.
    • These signs bode bad news
  2. verb commence in a manner calculated to bring good luck
    • They auspicated the trip with a bottle of champagne

WordNet

Aus"pi*cate adjective
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  1. Auspicious. Obs. Holland.
Aus"pi*cate transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To foreshow; to foretoken. Obs. B. Jonson.
  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.
    They auspicate all their proceedings. Burke.

Webster 1913