Question

read this excerpt from chapter 1 of the scarlet letter. finding it so directly on the threshold of our narrative, which is now about to issue from that inauspicious portal, we could hardly do otherwise than pluck one of its flowers and present it to the reader. what is the meaning of the word \inauspicious\? unremarkable, forgettable unintelligent, not educated unimpressive, poorly built unfavorable, boding ill

Explanation:

The word "inauspicious" has Latin roots. "In -" is a prefix meaning "not" or "opposite of", and "auspicious" means "favorable" or "promising". So "inauspicious" means the opposite of favorable. Looking at the context of the excerpt, it's about the start (threshold) of a narrative coming from a certain "portal". The overall tone and the idea of something being on the verge (threshold) and the word's root - based meaning lead to the conclusion.

Answer:

unfavorable, boding ill