auspicium Latin · revision 30767

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=la auspex}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [au̯sˈpɪ.ki.ũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [au̯sˈpiː.t͡ʃi.um]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''auspicium''' ''n'' (genitive auspiciī or auspicī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|auspex|-ium|t1=bird-watcher, augur]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan derives [[m|la|auspex]] from ⟨*awi-speks⟩, a compound of [[m|la|avis|t=bird]] and the root of [[m|la|speciō|t=to look]];^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) he traces [[m|la|avis]] to [[ine-pro|*h₂éwis|t=bird]].^(de Vaan 2008) The ancient grammarians knew this: Paulus' epitome of Festus has ⟨auspicium ab ave spicienda⟩, and Servius ⟨quasi avispicium⟩.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) The elogium of a Scipio says that he returned to Rome ''auspicī repetendī caussā'', “to take the auspices again”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Auspicium'' is augury from the behaviour of birds, the taking of the auspices, and an omen from birds (Varro: birds that give an omen by their song).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Since only magistrates had the right to take them, it came to mean that right, then the authority and command of a king or general: ''auspiciō'' or ''auspiciīs alicuius'', “under someone's command”.^(OLD 2012)^(Döderlein 1874) It is also any omen (Plautus: ''auspiciō malō'', “under a bad omen”, Catullus: ''ab auspiciō bonō''), and a beginning or first step (Ovid).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts ''auspicia'', the signs that magistrates had the right to take, with ''auguria'', read by the college of augurs.^(Döderlein 1874) In Church Latin it also stands for pagan divination and worship;^(Stelten 1995) medieval Latin uses it for “hope” and “success”.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''auspiciō malō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro on birds that give an ''auspicium''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero complains that generals begin wars having laid the ''auspicia'' aside.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|augury]] from birds, the [[m|en|auspices]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An omen from birds.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The right of taking the auspices.^(OLD 2012)^(Döderlein 1874)

+ # Command, authority, leadership.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An omen, sign.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A beginning.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Pagan divination, idolatry.^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Hope; success.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[auspex]]

+ * [[avis]]

+ * [[augurium]]

+ * [[ōmen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}