Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An augur of ancient Rome, especially one who interpreted omens derived from the observation of birds.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun One who divines by observing the motions, cries, etc., of birds; a diviner in general; an augur.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun (ancient Rome) a religious official who interpreted omens to guide public policy
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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There are objections to both interpretations; a Roman imperator was not called auspex, though he was attended by an auspex, and was said to have the auspicia; auspex is frequently used of one who, as we should say, inaugurates an undertaking, but only if he is a god or a deified mortal.
The Odes and Carmen Saeculare of Horace 65 BC-8 BC Horace 1847
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Is Teucer called auspex, as taking the auspices, like an augur, or as giving the auspices, like a god?
The Odes and Carmen Saeculare of Horace 65 BC-8 BC Horace 1847
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[14] Latin _auspicium_, from _auspex_, a bird seer.
Early European History Hutton Webster
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The English noun "auspice," which originally referred to this practice of observing birds to discover omens, also comes from Latin "auspex."
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coniugis et castris et solio generi50 optatum celebrare diem! me iungeret auspex
Epistle to Serena Claudian 1912
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