a. [ L. auspicatus, p. p. of auspicari to take auspices, fr. auspex a bird seer, an augur, a contr. of avispex; avis bird + specere, spicere, to view. See Aviary, Spy. ] Auspicious. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To foreshow; to foretoken. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give a favorable turn to in commencing; to inaugurate; -- a sense derived from the Roman practice of taking the auspicium, or inspection of birds, before undertaking any important business. [ 1913 Webster ]

They auspicate all their proceedings. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inauspicatus; pref. in- not + auspicatus, p. p. auspicari. See Auspicate. ] Inauspicious. [ Obs. ] Sir G. Buck. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. spicatus, p. p. of spicare furnish with spikes, or ears, fr. spica a spike, or ear. ] (Bot.) Having the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes. Lee. [ 1913 Webster ]