The Collaborative International 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.]
Convenient; auspicious; favorable; kind; as, a propitious season; a propitious breeze.
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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. [1913 Webster] -- Pro*pi"tious*ly, adv. -- Pro*pi"tious*ness, n.
Wiktionary
adv. In a propitious manner.
WordNet
adv. in an auspicious manner; "he started his new job auspiciously on his birthday" [syn: auspiciously] [ant: inauspiciously, inauspiciously]
Usage examples of "propitiously".
Heathen piety we are told that a Dove was propitiously received where the ability of the votarist was inadequate to an Hecatomb .