auspex
- noun
- /ˈɔːspɛks/
- Archaic
:
augur
- The Roman senate consulted an auspex before making important decisions.
Examples
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As an auspex, he carefully observed the flight patterns of birds.
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During the ceremony, the auspex offered his interpretations.
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The role of the auspex was crucial in ancient ceremonial events.
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The auspex observed the flight patterns of the birds.
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As an auspex, he carefully observed the flight patterns of birds to interpret omens.
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Before making important decisions, the Roman senate relied on an auspex to guide their actions.
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The predictions of the auspex played a vital role in shaping public policy in ancient Rome.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A religious official in ancient Rome who read omens to guide leaders
A Roman priest who looks at the insides of sacrificed animals to predict the future
Surface Forms
Etymology
Auspex comes from the Latin parts avis 'bird' and specere 'to look', the same root as in inspect. An auspex was a 'bird-watcher' who watched birds and read their behavior as signs, so the word means a person who interprets omens to guide public decisions.