praeco, ōnis (old
- I. dat, PRAECONEI, Inscr. Lat. 202, 2, 34), m., a crier, herald, in a court of justice, in popular assemblies, at auctions, at public spectacles, games, or processions, etc.: exsurge, praeco, fac populo audientiam, Enn. ap. Plaut. Poen. prol. 11 (Trag. v. 32 Vahl.); Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 30, § 76; id. Quint. 3, 11; Varr. L. L. 6, §§ 86 and 87 Müll.: haec per praeconem vendidit, Cic. N. D. 3, 34, 84: in eopse astas lapide, ut praeco praedicat, on the auctioneer’s block, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 7, 17; cf.: ut praeco, ad merces turbam qui cogit emendas, Hor. A. P. 419; Cic. Fam. 5, 12, 8; Juv. 6, 439; 8, 95: indictivum funus, ad quod per praeconem evocabantur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 106 Müll.
- II. Transf., a publisher, herald: o fortunate adulescens, qui tuae virtutis Homerum praeconem inveneris! Cic. Arch. 10, 24.