Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

auspex, spĭcis, comm. [a contraction of avispex, from avis-spicio], 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).

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

auspĭco, āre, v. auspicor fin.

auspĭcor, ātus, 1, v. dep. [from auspex, as auguror from augur], to take the auspices.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: (Gracchus) cum pomerium transiret, auspicari esset oblitus, Cic. N. D. 2, 4, 11: tripudio auspicari, id. Div. 1, 35, 77; 2, 36, 77: Fabio auspicanti aves non addixere, Liv. 27, 16, 15; 4, 6, 3; 6, 41, 5 sq. al.
    2. B. Esp., aliquid or absol., also with inf., to make a beginning, for the sake of a good omen, to begin, enter upon (first freq. after the Aug. per.): ipsis Kal. Januariis auspicandi causā omne genus operis instaurant, Col. 11, 2, 98: auspicandi gratiā tribunal ingredi, Tac. A. 4, 36: non auspicandi causā, sed studendi, Plin. Ep. 3, 5, 8: auspicatus est et jurisdictionem, Suet. Ner. 7: auspicabar in Virginem (aquam) desilire, Sen. Ep. 83, 5.
  2. II. In gen., to begin, enter upon a thing: auspicari culturarum officia, Col. 11, 2, 3; 3, 1, 1: homo a suppliciis vitam auspicatur, Plin. 7, prooem. § 3: militiam, Suet. Aug. 38: cantare, id. Ner. 22.
    Trop.: senatorium per militiam auspicantes gradum, attaining, receiving it through military services, Sen. Ep. 47, 10.
    Note:
        1. a. Act. access. form auspĭco, āre, to take the auspices: praetor advenit, auspicat auspicium prosperum, Naev. 4, 2 (Non. p 468, 28): (magistratus) publicae [rei] cum auspicant, Caecil. ap. Non. l. l. (Com. Rel. p. 66 Rib.): auspicetis: cras est communis dies, Atta, ib. (Com. Rel. p. 161 Rib.): Non hodie isti rei auspicavi, Plaut. Rud. 3, 4, 12: mustelam, to receive, accept as an augury, id. Stich. 3, 2, 46: super aliquā re, Gell. 3, 2.
        2. b. Pass.
          1. (α) Abl. absol.: auspĭcātō, after taking the auspices: Romulus non solum auspicato urbem condidisse, sed ipse etiam optimus augur fuisse traditur, Cic. Div. 1, 2, 3: Nihil fere quondam majoris rei nisi auspicato ne privatim quidem gerebatur, id. ib. 1, 16, 28: qui et consul rogari et augur et auspicato, id. N. D. 2, 4, 11; id. Div. 2, 36, 72; 2, 36, 77: plebeius magistratus nullus auspicato creatur, Liv. 6, 41, 5 sq.; 5, 38; 1, 36; 28, 28: Hunc (senatum) auspicato a parente et conditore urbis nostrae institutum, Tac. H. 1, 84; 3, 72 al.
          2. (β) auspĭcātus, a, um, part., consecrated by auguries: auspicato in loco, Cic. Rab. Perd. 4: non auspicatos contudit impetus Nostros, Hor. C. 3, 6, 10: auspicata comitia, Liv. 26, 2, 2 al.
          3. (γ) Acc. to auspicor, II., begun: in bello male auspicato, Just. 4, 5.
          4. (δ) auspĭcātus, a, um, as P. a., fortunate, favorable, lucky, prosperous, auspicious: cum Liviam auspicatis rei publicae ominibus duxisset uxorem, Vell. 2, 79, 2.
            Comp.: Venus auspicatior, Cat. 45, 26: arbor, Plin. 13, 22, 38, § 118.
            Sup.: auspicatissimum exordium, Quint. 10, 1, 85; Plin. Ep. 10, 28, 2: initium, Tac. G. 11.
            Adv.: auspĭcātō, under a good omen, auspiciously: ut ingrediare auspicato, at a for tunate moment, in a lucky hour, Plaut. Pers. 4, 4, 57: Haud auspicato huc me appuli, Ter. And. 4, 5, 12: qui auspicato a Chelidone surrexisset, Cic. Verr. 1, 40, 144.
            Comp. auspicatius: auspicatius mutare nomen, Plin. 3, 11, 16, § 105: gigni, id. 7, 9, 7, § 47.