PLAY PODCASTS
propitious
Episode 4562

propitious

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day · Merriam-Webster

April 20, 20192m 4s

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (rss.art19.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Show Notes

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 20, 2019 is:


propitious \pruh-PISH-us\ adjective

1 : favorably disposed : benevolent

2 : being a good omen : auspicious

3 : tending to favor : advantageous


Examples:

With the economy emerging from a recession, it was a propitious time to invest in a start-up.

"My instincts tell me that this is a propitious moment in time, a time when people support and insist upon decisive action, a time when policymakers have the courage and commitment to move forward with ideas that may seem bold but are, in essence, sensible and straightforward." — James Aloisi, Commonwealth Magazine, 7 Mar. 2019


Did you know?

Propitious, which comes to us through Middle English from the Latin word propitius, is a synonym of favorable and auspicious. All three essentially mean "pointing toward a happy outcome," with some differences of emphasis. Favorable implies that someone or something involved in a situation is approving or helpful ("a favorable recommendation"), or that circumstances are advantageous ("favorable weather conditions"). Auspicious usually applies to a sign or omen that promises success before or at the start of an event ("an auspicious beginning"). Propitious may also apply to beginnings, but it often suggests a continuing promising condition ("propitious conditions for an alliance").

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.