Cosmic Fate & Destiny Vocabulary

conducive to success; favorable

“The project began on an auspicious note.”

Origin: Latin auspicium (divination by birds), from avis (bird) + specere (to look)

not conducive to success; unpromising

“The meeting got off to an inauspicious start.”

Origin: Latin in- (not) + auspicium (divination)

destined to fail or be unlucky

“Their ill-starred romance ended in tragedy.”

Origin: From belief that stars influence destiny

thwarted by bad luck; ill-fated

“The star-crossed lovers were kept apart by fate.”

Origin: Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet; opposed by the stars

giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable

“The conditions seemed propitious for a breakthrough.”

Origin: Latin propitius (favorable)

of great significance; ominous; pompously solemn

“Dark clouds gathered in portentous silence.”

Origin: Latin portentum (omen, portent)

destined to happen; predetermined by fate

“Their meeting seemed fated from the beginning.”

Origin: Latin fatum (that which has been spoken), from the Fates