I.plur, oracla, Att. ap. Non. 488, 2, or Trag. Rel. p. 185 Rib.; Ov. M. 1, 321), i, n. oro, a divine announcement, an oracle (class.).
I. Lit.: “oracula ex eo ipso appellata sunt, quod inest in his deorum oratio,” Cic. Top. 20, 77: “quid est enim oraculum? nempe voluntas divina hominis ore enuntiata,” Sen. Contr. 1 praef.: “edere,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 48, 116: “petere a Dodonā,” id. Div. 1, 43, 95: “quaerere,” Verg. G. 4, 449: “poscere,” id. A. 3, 456: “consulere,” Ov. M. 3, 8: “Delphis oracula cessant,” Juv. 6, 555.—
II. Transf.
A. In gen., a prophetic declaration, a prophecy: “exposui somnii et furoris oracula,” Cic. Div. 1, 32, 70; 1, 50, 115.—
B. A place where oracular responses were given, an oracle: “illud oraculum Delphis tam celebre,” Cic. Div. 1, 19, 37: “Hammonis,” Plin. 12, 23, 49, § 107: “Delphicum,” Macr. S. 1, 18, 4.—
2. Esp. (eccl. Lat.), the mercy-seat, the place in the tabernacle in which the presence of God was manifest, Vulg. Exod. 25, 18; 40, 18: “oraculum templi, sanctum sanctorum,” id. 3 Reg. 8, 6.—
C. An oracular saying, oracle pronounced by a man: “haec ego nunc physicorum oracula fundo,” Cic. N. D. 1, 24, 66: “inde illa reliqua oracula: nequam agricolam esse, etc.,” Plin. 18, 6, 8, § 40.—
D. An imperial rescript, Just. Inst. 1, 11, 11.
