I.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).
I. 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,
II. Transf.
A. 1.. 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.—
2. 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.—
B. A beginning (post-class.), Eum. Pan. Const. 3; Pacat. Pan. Theod. 3.—
