auspice

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɔːspɪs/

noun

archaic
  • a divine or prophetic token.

Phrases

under the auspices of

with the help, support, or protection of: the course is run under the auspices of the Anglican Church

Origin:

mid 16th century (originally denoting the observation of bird flight in divination): from French, or from Latin auspicium, from auspex 'observer of birds', from avis 'bird' + specere 'to look'