Adjacent Words

Propitious definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PROPI'TIOUS, a. [L.propitius.] Favorable; kind; applied to men.
1. Disposed to be gracious or merciful; ready to forgive sins and bestow blessings; applied to God.
2. Favorable; as a propitious season.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success; "propitious omens"; "propitious gales speeded us along"; "a propitious alignment of planets for space exploration" [ant: unpropitious]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English propycyous, from Anglo-French propicius, from Latin propitius, probably from pro- for + petere to seek — more at pro-, feather Date: 15th century 1. favorably disposed ; benevolent 2. being a good omen ; auspicious <propitious sign> 3. tending to favor ; advantageous Synonyms: see favorable • propitiously adverb • propitiousness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 (of an omen etc.) favourable. 2 (often foll. by for, to) (of the weather, an occasion, etc.) suitable. 3 well-disposed (the fates were propitious). Derivatives: propitiously adv. propitiousness n. Etymology: ME f. OF propicieus or L propitius

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Propitious Pro*pi"tious, a. [L. propitius, perhaps originally a term of augury meaning, flying forward (pro) or well; cf. Skr. pat to fly, E. petition, feather.] 1. Convenient; auspicious; favorable; kind; as, a propitious season; a propitious breeze. 2. Hence, kind; gracious; merciful; helpful; -- said of a person or a divinity. --Milton. And now t' assuage the force of this new flame, And make thee [Love] more propitious in my need. --Spenser. Syn: Auspicious; favorable; kind. Usage: Propitious, Auspicious. Auspicious (from the ancient idea of auspices, or omens) denotes ``indicative of success,'' or ``favored by incidental occurrences;'' as, an auspicious opening; an auspicious event. Propitious denotes that which efficaciously protect us in some undertaking, speeds our exertions, and decides our success; as, propitious gales; propitious influences. -- Pro*pi"tious*ly, adv. -- Pro*pi"tious*ness, n.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

If something is propitious, it is likely to lead to success. (FORMAL) They should wait for the most propitious moment between now and the next election... The omens for the game are still not propitious. = favourable ? unfavourable ADJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Gracious, benevolent, benign, kind, favorable, friendly, merciful, ready, to bless. 2. Auspicious, lucky, happy, fortunate, favorable, well-disposed, opportune, prosperous, promising, in a fair way.

Moby Thesaurus

advantageous, amicable, appropriate, auspicious, befitting, beneficent, beneficial, benevolent, benign, benignant, brave, bright, bright with promise, cheering, convenient, cooperative, dexter, encouraging, expedient, fair, favorable, favoring, felicitous, fit, fitting, fortunate, friendly, full of promise, golden, good, happy, helpful, inspiring, inspiriting, kind, kindly, kindly-disposed, looking up, lucky, meet, neighborly, of good omen, of happy portent, of promise, opportune, pregnant of good, promising, prosperous, providential, reassuring, ripe, rosy, seasonable, sortable, suitable, supportive, timely, toward, useful, well-affected, well-disposed, well-intentioned, well-meaning, well-meant, well-timed, white