auspex
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does auspex mean? An auspex was an Ancient Roman official who acted as soothsayer or priest and was responsible for interpreting omens to guide decisions. The plural of auspex is auspices. The Ancient Roman auspices were highly respected religious officials. They were consulted by lawmakers and other leaders prior to major events such as wars and the founding of colonies. The word augur can mean the same thing, and it is also used as a general term for any prophet, oracle, or soothsayer. Example: The emperor was known for never taking action before consulting the auspices.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of auspex
1590–1600; < Latin: one who observes birds, soothsayer, diviner, equivalent to au-, base of avis bird + -spex watcher ( spec-, stem of specere to look at) + -s nominative singular suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Is Teucer called auspex, as taking the auspices, like an augur, or as giving the auspices, like a god?
From The Odes and Carmen Saeculare of Horace by Conington, John
Lebanese authorities recently began landmark direct talks with Israel under US auspices, and are preparing for a fourth round in early June, preceded by a meeting between military delegations at the Pentagon on May 29.
From Barron's ● May 24, 2026
Nakamura is a special correspondent writing for The Times under the auspices of the International Center for Journalists.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026
Most recently, under the auspices of Venetian Heritage, an international foundation that supports conservation, publications and exhibitions, the painting was intensively studied and worked on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
The animals cannot be rehomed, explains Mrs Mansfield, with many requiring licences to keep them under the auspices of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025
He wrote to Charles, “It is a marriage which will give almost as much pleasure to the rest of the world as it does to yourselves—the best auspices I should think for any marriage.”
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
