previous next
auspĭcĭum , ii, n. auspex,
I.divination by observing the flight of birds, augury from birds, auspices (cf. augurium).
I. A.. Lit.: “auspicia avium,Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 203 (as if overlooking the origin of auspicium): praetor auspicat auspicium prosperum, Naev. ap. Non. p. 468, 28: Dant (Romulus et Remus) operam simul auspicio augurioque etc., Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107 (Ann. v. 81 sq. Vahl.: “pullarium in auspicium mittit,Liv. 10, 40, 2: “ab auspicio bono proficisci, of marriage,Cat. 45, 19 Ellis (cf. auspex, II. A. 2.) et saep.; cf. “the class. passages,Cic. Div. 1, 47 sq.; 2, 34 sq.; Liv. 6, 41, 4 sq.—So auspicium habere, to have the right of taking auspices (which, in the performance of civil duties, was possessed by all magistrates, but, in time of war, only by the commander - in - chief): “omnes magistratus auspicium judiciumque habento,Cic. Leg. 3, 3, 10: “quod nemo plebeius auspicia haberet,Liv. 4, 6, 2.—Of the commander - in - chief: “expugnatum oppidumst Imperio atque auspicio mei eri Amphitruonis,Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 37: “Ut gesserit rem publicam ductu, imperio, auspicio suo,id. ib. 1, 1, 41; “2, 2, 25: qui ductu auspicioque ejus res prospere gesserant,Liv. 5, 46, 6; 8, 31, 1; 10, 7, 7; 41, 28, 1 al.; “21, 40, 3: recepta signa ductu Germanici, auspiciis Tiberii,Tac. A. 2, 41: “Septentrionalis oceanus navigatus est auspiciis divi Augusti,Plin. 2, 67, 67, § 167: “alia ductu meo, alia imperio auspicioque perdomui,Curt. 6, 3, 2: “domuit partim ductu partim auspiciis suis Cantabriam, etc.,Suet. Aug. 21 Ruhnk.—And so absol.: “vates rege vatis habenas, Auspicio felix totus ut annus eat (sc. tuo),Ov. F. 1, 26 Merk.—Hence for the chief command, guidance: “tuis auspiciis totum confecta duella per orbem,Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 254 Schmid: “Illius auspiciis obsessae moenia pacem Victa petent Mutinae,Ov. M. 15, 822.—And, in gen., right, power, inclination, will: “Me si fata meis paterentur ducere vitam Auspiciis et sponte meā componere curas, etc.,Verg. A. 4, 341: “Communem hunc ergo populum paribusque regamus Auspiciis,id. ib. 4, 103 (aequali potestate, Serv.).—
B. Transf., in gen., a sign, omen, a divine premonition or token: “Liquido exeo auspicio foras, Avi sinistrā,Plaut. Ep. 2, 2, 2; so id. Ps. 2, 4, 72: “optimum,id. Stich. 3, 2, 6: dicere ausus est optimis auspiciis ea geri, Cic. Sen. 4, 11: “quae contra rem publicam ferrentur, contra auspicia ferri,id. ib.: “melius,Plaut. Men. 5, 9, 88: “vanum,Prop. 1, 3, 28: “infaustum,Verg. A. 11, 347: “felix,Just. 1, 10 al.—So, auspicium facere, of things which give signs, tokens, omens: “augurium haec (mustela) facit,Plaut. Stich. 3, 2, 10: “cur aliis a laevā, aliis a dexterā datum est avibus, ut ratum auspicium facere possint?Cic. Div. 2, 38, 80: “circa summum culmen hominis auspicium fecisse,Liv. 1, 34, 9.—Poet.: cui (diviti) si vitiosa libido Fecerit auspicium, gave him a token (viz. for changing), urged him to a new decision, Hor, Ep. 1, 1, 86.—
II. Trop., = initium, a beginning (cf. auspicor, II., and auspex, II. B.): “auspicia belli a parricidio incipientes,Just. 26, 2, 2: “auspicia regni a parricidio coepit,id. 27, 1.
hide Dictionary Entry Lookup
Use this tool to search for dictionary entries in all lexica.
Search for in
hide References (24 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (24):
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 10, 40.2
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 10, 7.7
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 15.822
    • Plautus, Pseudolus, 2.4
    • Plautus, Stichus, 3.2
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 11.347
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 4.341
    • Suetonius, Divus Augustus, 21
    • Tacitus, Annales, 2.41
    • Plautus, Amphitruo, 1.1
    • Plautus, Epidicus, 2.2
    • Plautus, Menaechmi, 5.9
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 8, 31
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 4, 6.2
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 5, 46.6
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 1, 34.9
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 6, 41.4
    • Cicero, De Legibus, 3.3
    • Cicero, De Senectute, 4
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 1.47
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 1.48
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 2.38
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 6.3.2
    • Ovid, Fasti, 1
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: