different between propitious vs provocative

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman and Old French propicius, from Latin propitius (“favorable, well-disposed, kind”). Compare French propice, Portuguese propício and Spanish propicio.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?o??p???s/
• Hyphenation: pro?pi?tious

Adjective

propitious (comparative more propitious, superlative most propitious)

1. Favorable; benevolent.

   Synonym: favorable

   Antonym: unpropitious

2. Advantageous.

   Synonym: advantageous

3. Characteristic of a good omen.

   Synonyms: auspicious, fortunate, promising
4. (archaic) Favorably disposed towards someone.

Antonyms

• unpropitious

Translations

Related terms

• propitiate
• propitiation
• propitiously
• propitiousness

Further reading

• propitious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• propitious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• propitious at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French provocatif, and its source, Late Latin provocativus, from Latin provocare.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p???v?k.?.t?v/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p???v?k.?.t?v/

Adjective

provocative (comparative more provocative, superlative most provocative)

1. Serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.
2. Serving or tending to excite, stimulate or arouse sexual interest; sexy.

Related terms

• provoke
• provocation
• provocator

Related terms

• provocateur

Translations

Noun

provocative (plural provocatives)

1. (obsolescent) Something that provokes an appetite, especially a sexual appetite; an aphrodisiac. [from 15th c.]
   • 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury:

     She used by way of Provocative, to read the wanton Verses of her Paramour in the day time [...].

Latin

Adjective

pr?voc?t?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of pr?voc?t?vus