Though “propitious” and “auspicious” are very similar in meaning (both meaning “giving signs of favorable success”), there are some subtle differences between them. “Propitious” comes from the Latin root “propitius,” which means “gracious.” This term is generally used to describe the things that help us to achieve success. “Auspice,” the base of “auspicious,” means “a divine or prophetic token,” so this implies a more superstitious connotation. This term is used when there’s a promise of more success to come.