Auspex is a word that is not commonly used in everyday conversation, but it is still an important term in certain fields. It has a rich history and a variety of meanings, which we will explore in this article.
Definitions
Auspex is a Latin word that means “bird watcher” or “bird interpreter”. In ancient Rome, an auspex was a religious official who observed the behavior of birds to predict the future. Today, the word is used more broadly to refer to someone who is skilled at interpreting signs or omens.
Origin
The word auspex comes from the Latin words “avis” (bird) and “specere” (to observe). It was first used in ancient Rome to describe the religious officials who watched birds to predict the future.
Meaning in different dictionaries
In the Oxford English Dictionary, auspex is defined as “a person who observes and interprets omens, especially from the flight of birds”. Merriam-Webster defines it as “an augur of ancient Rome who foretold events by observing and interpreting omens, especially the behavior of birds”. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a person who watches birds and interprets their behavior as a way of predicting the future”.
Associations
Auspex is associated with ancient Rome, religion, and divination. It is also associated with the idea of interpreting signs or omens to predict the future.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of auspex include augur, diviner, prophet, seer, and soothsayer.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms of auspex, but words that are opposite in meaning include skeptic, cynic, and disbeliever.
The same root words
The Latin root words of auspex are “avis” (bird) and “specere” (to observe). Other words that share these roots include avian, aviary, spectator, and inspect.
Example Sentences
- The ancient Romans believed that the auspex could predict the future by observing the behavior of birds.
- The modern-day auspex uses a variety of signs and omens to interpret the future.
- The auspex was highly respected in ancient Rome for their ability to predict important events.
- The company hired an auspex to help them interpret the market trends and make better business decisions.
- The young boy believed he had the gift of being an auspex and would spend hours watching the birds outside his window.