propitious, a.
(prəʊˈpɪʃəs)
Forms: 5 propycyous, 5–7 -pici(o)us, 6– propitious.
[Late ME. a. OF. propicius, -eux (a 1140 in Godef.), f. L. propiti-us (see propice): see -ous.]
1. Disposed to be favourable; well-disposed, favourably inclined; gracious.
| 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 10 To them in erthe that the serve and love Be evere propycyous. 1451 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert (E.E.T.S.) 75 Nature, whech is propicius to helth, had withdrawe sum-what hir fauour. 1596 Spenser Hymns i. ii, T'asswage the force of this new flame, And make thee more propitious in my need. 1681 R. Wittie Surv. Heavens 56 Astrology considers some of the Planets in their Influences as propitious to Mankind. 1748 Hartley Observ. Man ii. ii. 112 They all endeavoured to render God propitious by Sacrifice. 1888 A. K. Green Behind Closed Doors iv, If the fates are propitious we may succeed. |
b. Indicative of, or characterized by, favour; of favourable import; boding well.
| 1586 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. v. i, We entreat..That this device may prove propitious. 1649 Milton Eikon. xxviii. 238 God hath testifi'd by all propitious and evident signes..that such a solemn..act..was..a..gratefull..Sacrifice. 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1732) 26 Having first sent our Present,..to procure a propitious reception. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) VI. xv. xiii. 202 Being told that the auspices were not propitious. 1870 Bryant Iliad I. ii. 52 Almighty Jupiter Flung down his lightnings on the right and gave Propitious omens. |
2. Presenting favourable conditions; favourable, advantageous.
| 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 12 The gentlenesse of the aire, with the fertilitie of the ground,..is so propitious and naturall for the increase of fruite. 1695 Addison King 210 May Heav'n's propitious gales attend thee home! 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xxv. (1869) I. 721 The circumstances were propitious to the designs of an usurper. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. II. viii. 206 Thurstan looked upon the moment as one propitious for revolt. 1870 L'Estrange Miss Mitford I. iii. 75 The weather was most propitious. |
Hence proˈpitiously adv., in a propitious manner; proˈpitiousness, the quality or fact of being propitious.
| 1593 Nashe Christ's T. Wks. (Grosart) IV. 61 If I had but bestowed the thousand part of the propitiousnes I haue bestowed on the progeny of Abraham. 1681 Dryden Abs. & Achit. 363 Yet oh that Fate, propitiously inclined, Had raised my birth, or had debased my mind. 1690 Temple Anc. & Mod. Learn. Wks. 1720 I. 159 The Propitiousness of Climate to that sort of Tree. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. i. ix. (1838) 58 The wreck of matter and the crash of worlds was thy element and propitiously wafting tide. |