Propitiousness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. Convenient; auspicious; favorable; kind; as, a propitious
        season; a propitious breeze.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Hence, kind; gracious; merciful; helpful; -- said of a
        person or a divinity. --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              And now t' assuage the force of this new flame,
              And make thee [Love] more propitious in my need.
                                                    --Spenser.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
            [1913 Webster] -- {Pro*pi"tious*ly}, adv. --
            {Pro*pi"tious*ness}, n.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  propitiousness
       n : the favorable quality of strongly indicating a successful
           result [syn: {auspiciousness}] [ant: {inauspiciousness},
           {inauspiciousness}]