LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

auspicium

auspicium n (genitive auspiciī or auspicī)
Classical[au̯sˈpɪ.ki.ũː]Ecclesiastical[au̯sˈpiː.t͡ʃi.um]

Meaning

  1. neuterdivination, augury (by watching birds)
  2. neuterauspices
  3. neuter(plural) power, authority
    Commūnem hunc ergō populum paribusque regāmus / auspiciīs [...].“Therefore let us rule this nation jointly and with equal authority.” (Understood literally, Juno is proposing that she and Venus will jointly control the divine auspices interpreted at Carthage.)29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 4.102-103
  4. neutersign, indication

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Auguria · Auspicia · Prodigia · Ostenta · Portenta · Monstra · Omina

Auguria and auspicia are appearances in the ordinary course of nature, which for the most part possess a meaning for those only who are skilful in the interpretation of signs; auguria (from augur, αὐγάζειν) for the members of the college of augurs, who are skilled in such things; auspicia, for the magistrates, who have the right to take auspices: whereas prodigia, ostenta, portenta, monstra, are appearances out of the ordinary course of nature, which strike the common people, and only receive a more exact interpretation from the soothsayer: lastly, omina (ὄθματα, ὄσσαι) are signs which any person, to whom they occur, can interpret for himself, without assistance. The primary notion in prodigium is, that the appearance is replete with meaning, and pregnant with consequences; in ostentum, that it excites wonder, and is great in its nature: in portentum, that it excites terror, and threatens danger; in monstrum, that it is unnatural and ugly. (v. 178.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeauspiciumauspicia
genitiveauspiciī
auspicī		auspiciōrum
dativeauspiciōauspiciīs
accusativeauspiciumauspicia
ablativeauspiciōauspiciīs
vocativeauspiciumauspicia

auspĭcĭum, ii, n. auspex,
I. divination by observing the flight of birds, augury from birds, auspices (cf. augurium).
I. A.. Lit.: auspicia avium, Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 203 (as if overlooking the origin of auspicium): praetor auspicat auspicium prosperum, Naev. ap. Non. p. 468, 28: Dant (Romulus et Remus) operam simul auspicio augurioque etc., Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107 (Ann. v. 81 sq. Vahl.: pullarium in auspicium mittit, Liv. 10, 40, 2: ab auspicio bono proficisci, of marriage, Cat. 45, 19 Ellis (cf. auspex, II. A. 2.) et saep.; cf. the class. passages, Cic. Div. 1, 47 sq.; 2, 34 sq.; Liv. 6, 41, 4 sq.—So auspicium habere, to have the right of taking auspices (which, in the performance of civil duties, was possessed by all magistrates, but, in time of war, only by the commander - in - chief): omnes magistratus auspicium judiciumque habento, Cic. Leg. 3, 3, 10: quod nemo plebeius auspicia haberet, Liv. 4, 6, 2.—Of the commander - in - chief: expugnatum oppidumst Imperio atque auspicio mei eri Amphitruonis, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 37: Ut gesserit rem publicam ductu, imperio, auspicio suo, id. ib. 1, 1, 41; 2, 2, 25: qui ductu auspicioque ejus res prospere gesserant, Liv. 5, 46, 6; 8, 31, 1; 10, 7, 7; 41, 28, 1 al.; 21, 40, 3: recepta signa ductu Germanici, auspiciis Tiberii, Tac. A. 2, 41: Septentrionalis oceanus navigatus est auspiciis divi Augusti, Plin. 2, 67, 67, § 167: alia ductu meo, alia imperio auspicioque perdomui, Curt. 6, 3, 2: domuit partim ductu partim auspiciis suis Cantabriam, etc., Suet. Aug. 21 Ruhnk.—And so absol.: vates rege vatis habenas, Auspicio felix totus ut annus eat (sc. tuo), Ov. F. 1, 26 Merk.—Hence for the chief command, guidance: tuis auspiciis totum confecta duella per orbem, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 254 Schmid: Illius auspiciis obsessae moenia pacem Victa petent Mutinae, Ov. M. 15, 822.—And, in gen., right, power, inclination, will: Me si fata meis paterentur ducere vitam Auspiciis et sponte meā componere curas, etc., Verg. A. 4, 341: Communem hunc ergo populum paribusque regamus Auspiciis, id. ib. 4, 103 (aequali potestate, Serv.).—
B. Transf., in gen., a sign, omen, a divine premonition or token: Liquido exeo auspicio foras, Avi sinistrā, Plaut. Ep. 2, 2, 2; so id. Ps. 2, 4, 72: optimum, id. Stich. 3, 2, 6: dicere ausus est optimis auspiciis ea geri, Cic. Sen. 4, 11: quae contra rem publicam ferrentur, contra auspicia ferri, id. ib.: melius, Plaut. Men. 5, 9, 88: vanum, Prop. 1, 3, 28: infaustum, Verg. A. 11, 347: felix, Just. 1, 10 al.—So, auspicium facere, of things which give signs, tokens, omens: augurium haec (mustela) facit, Plaut. Stich. 3, 2, 10: cur aliis a laevā, aliis a dexterā datum est avibus, ut ratum auspicium facere possint? Cic. Div. 2, 38, 80: circa summum culmen hominis auspicium fecisse, Liv. 1, 34, 9.—Poet.: cui (diviti) si vitiosa libido Fecerit auspicium, gave him a token (viz. for changing), urged him to a new decision, Hor, Ep. 1, 1, 86.—
II. Trop., = initium, a beginning (cf. auspicor, II., and auspex, II. B.): auspicia belli a parricidio incipientes, Just. 26, 2, 2: auspicia regni a parricidio coepit, id. 27, 1.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew-der.?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éwis
  3. Proto-Italic*awis
  4. Latinauspicium

Proto-Italic *speks Latin *-spex Latin *avispeks Latin auspex Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -iusnom. Latin -ium Latin auspicium From auspex (“augur, priest”) + -ium.

Descendants
  • Italianauspicio
  • Catalanauspici
  • Englishauspice
  • Frenchauspices
  • GermanAuspizien
  • Portugueseauspício
  • Romanianauspiciu
  • Spanishauspicio
  • Galicianauspicio

Quick answers

What does auspicium mean in Latin?
auspicium, a noun, means “divination, augury (by watching birds); auspices; (plural) power, authority”.
What is the genitive of auspicium?
The genitive singular is auspiciī. auspicium is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce auspicium?
In classical Latin, [au̯sˈpɪ.ki.ũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [au̯sˈpiː.t͡ʃi.um].
Where does auspicium come from?
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew-der.? → Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwis → Proto-Italic *awis → Latin auspicium.