inauspicious
/ˌɪnɔːˈspɪʃəs/
This word describes a heavy sense of foreboding. It is not just about being 'unlucky,' but specifically about the signs or omens present at the beginning of an event that suggest failure is inevitable. It carries a formal, slightly literary tone. You would rarely use it in casual conversation (where you might say 'bad start' or 'off to a rocky start'), but it is common in narrative writing and formal reports to describe an ominous atmosphere. Unlike 'unfortunate,' which describes the result of a bad event, 'inauspicious' focuses on the predictive quality of the moment. It is the feeling that the universe is signaling a negative outcome before the main action has even unfolded.
💬Casual Conversation
The new CRM crashed during the demo. Pretty inauspicious start, right?
Told you it'd tank. Did you even bother to reboot first?
Meanings
Not conducive to success; suggesting that future events will be unfavorable or unlucky.
"The cold rain and grey skies provided an inauspicious start to their wedding day."
Etymology
Derived from the Latin prefix in- meaning not, combined with auspicium, which refers to the practice of observing birds to determine the will of the gods. The term evolved from the Roman ritual of taking auspices, where the flight or feeding habits of birds were interpreted as omens for future ventures.