▪ I. † ˈauspicate, a. Obs.
[ad. L. auspicātus, pa. pple. of auspicāre, -āri to take omens at the beginning of any business, to start prosperously, to begin, enter upon, f. auspic-em, auspex.]
Started with good auspices; well-omened; fortunate.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 679 It is not an auspicate beginning of a feast..to snatch or lurch from one another. 1657 Howell Londinop. 6 Among the most auspicious names..[is] none more auspicate or glorious than Augusta. |
▪ II. auspicate, v.
(ˈɔːspɪkeɪt)
[f. prec., or on analogy of vbs. so formed.]
† 1. trans. To give omen of, betoken, prognosticate. Obs.
| 1603 B. Jonson King's Entert. Wks. (1838) 535/1 As ominous a comet..as that did auspicate So lasting glory to Augustus' state. |
2. intr. To augur, prognosticate, predict.
| 1848 H. Rogers Ess. (1860) III. 357 It were mockery to auspicate favorably so long as they continue. |
3. trans. To initiate (a business, undertaking, etc.) with a ceremony calculated to ensure prosperity or good luck to it; to give a fortunate start to.
| 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. viii. (1632) 553 To auspicate his Temporall affaires with Spirituall deuotions. 1640 Brome Antipodes i. vi. 255 First, Sir, a health to auspicate our travailes, And wee'll away. 1823 Lamb Elia Ser. ii. vi. (1865) 269 To auspicate..the filial concern, and set it agoing with a lustre. 1865 D. Nash in Merlin (E.E.T.S.) Pref. 6 Auspicating the foundations of cities..by human sacrifice. |
4. To enter upon in a way which may be attended with good or bad consequences; to handsel, signalize (one's entrance upon).
| 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. vii. 6 Which Act was accidently hanseld, and auspicated with the bloud of many Jewes. 1796 Burke Regic. Peace Wks. IX. 81 The very first acts, by which [this new Government] auspicated its entrance into function. 1834 Sir H. Taylor Artevelde i. ii. v, Can the son better auspicate his arms Than by the slaying of who slew the father? |
5. To begin, commence, start; to inaugurate.
| 1652 Sparke Prim. Devot. (1663) 97 Whence all the rest auspicate their Gospel. 1831 Crayons fr. Commons 41 Long ere the purse and mace Were auspicated to proclaim the state Which fortune will'd on Henry Brougham should wait. 1876 Bancroft Hist. U.S. I. iv. 125 The London company merits the praise of having auspicated liberty in America. |
† 6. intr. To make a start or commencement. Obs.
| a 1670 Hacket Cent. Serm. (1675) 582 Let me auspicate from the Text and Authority of Holy Scripture. |