propitious

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 17, 2011 is: propitious • \pruh-PISH-us\  • adjective 1 : favorably disposed : benevolent 2 : being of good omen : auspicious 3 : tending to favor : advantageous Examples: A time of high unemployment is not the most propitious moment to start searching for a new job. "The fact that at least one of Johnny's old buddies, a wiseguy named Skinny, immediately began calling the bridal suite from the hotel bar downstairs was not a propitious omen for the marriage." -- From Howie Carr's 2011 book Hitman: The Untold Story of Johnny Martorano: Whitey Bulger's Enforcer and the Most Feared Gangster in the Underworld Did you know? "Propitious," which comes to us through Middle English from the Latin word "propitius" (same meaning as "propitious"), is a synonym of "favorable" and "auspicious." All three essentially mean "pointing toward a happy outcome," with some differences of emphasis. "Favorable" implies that the persons involved in a situation are approving or helpful, 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.