THE FIRST WORD

auspices

PRONUNCIATION:

(AW-spi-seez) 

MEANING:

noun:
1. Patronage, support, or sponsorship.
2. A favorable sign.

ETYMOLOGY:

Plural of auspice, from Latin auspicium (divination from flight of birds), from auspex (bird watcher), from avis (bird) + specere (to look at). Ultimately from the Indo-European root awi- (bird), which is also the source of avian, ostrich, osprey, oval, ovum, ovary, egg, and caviar. Earliest documented use: 1611.

USAGE:

"In March, Serbian and Kosovo officials met under EU auspices for their first high-level face-to-face talks."
Kosovo Parliament Rejects Move to Cancel Talks; Agence France Presse (Paris); May 5, 2011.