Auspicious, a.
Etymology: [See Auspice.]
1. Having omens or tokens of a favorable issue; giving promise of success, prosperity, or happiness; predicting good; as, an auspicious beginning. Auspicious union of order and freedom. Macaulay.
2. Prosperous; fortunate; as, auspicious years. "Auspicious chief." Dryden.
3. Favoring; favorable; propitious; -- applied to persons or things. "Thy auspicious mistress." Shak. "Auspicious gales." Pope.
Syn. -- See Propitious. -- Aus*pi"cious*ly, adv. -- Aus*pi"cious*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for auspicious; he lists it under propitious.
Where he writes about it:
That which is auspicious is of favorable omen; that which is propitious is of favoring influence or tendency; as, an auspicious morning; a propitious breeze. — from propitious
Propitious applies to persons, implying kind disposition and favorable inclinations, especially toward the suppliant; auspicious is not used of persons. — from propitious