Literary notes about propitious (AI summary)
The term "propitious" is often employed in literature to convey an atmosphere of favorable chance or divine intervention. Authors use it to mark moments when conditions are perfectly aligned for significant actions—a call to seize an opportune juncture, as when a marriage is encouraged at the "propitious moment" [1] or when a hero takes advantage of his moment of ascendancy [2]. It also emerges in texts as an invocation for benevolence from higher powers, whether asking for mercy or guidance [3, 4, 5]. In addition, the word frequently describes celestial or temporal conditions that seem to guarantee success or mitigate misfortune, casting a favorable light on destiny and human endeavors [6, 7, 8].
- When the propitious moment has come, get married.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov - His absence left Fletcher master of the field, and he seized the propitious moment.
— from Work: A Story of Experience by Louisa May Alcott - O Lamb of God, who for us wert led as a sheep to the slaughter, remember us: Be propitious, and have mercy upon us.
— from Prayers of the Middle Ages: Light from a Thousand Years - Descend once more, propitious to my aid.
— from The Odyssey by Homer - Thou who alone hast by Thy death overcome the death of our guilt, remember us: Be propitious, and have mercy upon us.
— from Prayers of the Middle Ages: Light from a Thousand Years - and happy, most happy you, whose propitious stars have so favoured you as to let you see the living and real face of this good god on earth!
— from Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais - The day was declining, there was not even a cat in the lane, the hour was propitious.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - May the propitious Deity direct and prosper the counsels and events of my administration, to your advantage and to the public welfare!
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
