(Adj.) : 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).
* 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
* Transf.
* 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.
* 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.
* A beginning (post-class.), Eum. Pan. Const. 3; Pacat. Pan. Theod. 3.
* Fortunate, favorable, auspicious, lucky (post-class.): clamor,Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 610: victoria,id. VI. Cons. Hon. 653: purpura,id. Ep. ad Seren. 57.

s. TLL