I. An increasing, increase, αὐξησις: “auctio frumenti et tributorum,” Tac. Agr. 19: “dierum,” Macr. S. 1, 14: rerum crescentium, Paul. ex Fest. p. 17 Müll.—
II. A sale by increase of bids, a public sale, auction. Auctions were held either in an open place, or in particular rooms or halls, called atria auctionaria (v. auctionarius), or simply atria (Juv. 7, 7). There was a spear (hasta) set up therein, as the legal sign of the sale, like our red flag; the price was called out by a crier (praeco), and the article sold was adjudged to the highest bidder by the magistrate who was present. A money-broker (argentarius) was also present to note down the price and receive the money or security for it; “v. Smith, Dict. Antiq. (this is the class. signif. of the word): auctionem facere,” Plaut. Men. 5, 9, 91-94; so id. Poen. 1, 3, 2; 5, 6, 27; id. Stich. 2, 2, 60; Cic. Quinct. 4; id. Att. 12, 3 al.: “Dicam auctionis causam, ut animo gaudeant, Ipse egomet quam ob rem auctionem praedicem,” announce, Plaut. Stich. 1, 3, 55; so, “auctionis diem obire,” Cic. Att. 13, 14: “proscribere,” id. ib. 13, 37; “and proponere,” Quint. 6, 3, 99: “proferre,” to defer, adjourn, Cic. Att. 13, 13: amplissima praedia ex auctionibus hastae minimo addixit, by the sales of the spear, i. e. by auctions (v. supra), Suet. Caes. 50 (cf.: “praebere caput dominā venale sub hastā,” Juv. 3, 33): “auctio hereditaria constituta,” Cic. Caecin. 5: “auctionis tabula,” id. Agr. 2, 25 (v. auctionalis): “auctio fortunae regiae,” Liv. 2, 14: “vendere aliquid in auctione,” by auction, Plin. 29, 4, 30, § 96: “res in auctione venit,” Gai. 4, 126: “ex auctione rem emere,” Dig. 31, 4, 2, § 8: “auctionem dimittere,” Quint. 11, 2, 24. —
B. Meton. (abstr. pro concr.), goods to be sold by auction: “cum auctionem venderet,” Cic. Quinct. 5, 19 (B. and K.; others, auctione).
