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|lshtext=<b>auspex</b>: spĭcis, comm. a [[contraction]] of avispex, from [[avis]]-[[spicio]],<br /><b>I</b> a [[bird]] [[inspector]], [[bird]]-[[seer]], i. e. one [[who]] observes the [[flight]], [[singing]], or [[feeding]] of birds, and foretells [[future]] events [[therefrom]]; an [[augur]], [[soothsayer]], [[diviner]] (in a lit. signif. [[far]] [[more]] [[rare]] [[than]] [[augur]]).<br /><b>I</b> Lit.: latores et [[auspices]] legis curiatae, Cic. Att. 2, 7: ego cui timebo Providus [[auspex]], Hor. C. 3, 27, 8.—Of the birds from [[which]] auguries were taken: (galli, gallinacei) victoriarum omnium [[auspices]], Plin. 10, 21, 24, § 49.—Since [[little]] of [[importance]] [[was]] done in [[Rome]] [[without]] consulting the [[auspices]], [[hence]],<br /><b>II</b> Transf.<br /> In gen., an [[author]], [[founder]], [[director]], [[leader]], [[protector]], favorer: divis Auspicibus coeptorum operum, Verg. A. 3, 20: Dis [[equidem]] auspicibus [[reor]] etc., id. ib. 4, 45, and Ov. F. 1, 615: auspice Musā, i. e. under the inspiration of the [[muse]], Hor. Ep. 1, 3, 13: Nil desperandum Teucro duce et auspice Teucro, id. C. 1, 7, 27.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Esp., as t. t., the [[person]] [[who]] witnessed the [[marriage]] [[contract]], the [[reception]] of the [[marriage]] [[portion]], took [[care]] [[that]] the [[marriage]] ceremonies were [[rightly]] performed, etc., [[παρανύμφιος]]>: [[nihil]] [[fere]] [[quondam]] majoris rei [[nisi]] [[auspicato]] ne [[privatim]] [[quidem]] gerebatur, [[quod]] [[etiam]] [[nunc]] nuptiarum [[auspices]] declarant, qui re omissā [[nomen]] [[tantum]] tenent, Cic. Div. 1, 16, 28; cf. Val. Max. 2, 1, 1; Serv. ad Verg. A. 1, 346; Plaut. Cas. prol. 86: nubit [[genero]] [[socrus]] nullis auspicibus, nullis auctoribus, etc., Cic. Clu. 5, 14; so Liv. 42, 12, 4: auspicum verba, Tac. A. 11, 27; 15, 37: alicui nubere [[dote]] [[inter]] [[auspices]] consignatā, Suet. Claud. 26; veniet cum signatoribus [[auspex]], Juv. 10, 336 Schol.; Luc. 2, 371 Schol.—In fem., Claud. in Rufin. 1, 1, 83; cf. [[pronubus]]; [[auctor]], II. F. 3.; and Smith, Dict. Antiq.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> A [[beginning]] ([[post]]-[[class]].), Eum. [[Pan]]. Const. 3; Pacat. [[Pan]]. Theod. 3.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>C</b> Adj., [[fortunate]], favorable, [[auspicious]], [[lucky]] ([[post]]-[[class]].): [[clamor]], Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 610: [[victoria]], id. VI. Cons. Hon. 653: [[purpura]], id. Ep. ad Seren. 57.
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