haruspex

[huh-ruhs-peks, har-uh-speks]

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noun, plural ha·rus·pi·ces [huh-ruhs-puh-seez] /həˈrʌs pəˌsiz/.

(in ancient Rome) one of a class of minor priests who practiced divination, especially from the entrails of animals killed in sacrifice.

Also aruspex.

Origin of haruspex

1575–85; < Latin, equivalent to haru- (akin to hīra intestine; see chord¹) + spec- (stem of specere to look at) + -s nominative singular ending

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for haruspex

witch, seer, prognosticator, diviner, medium, sibyl, astrologer, forecaster, reader, wizard, bard, fortuneteller, soothsayer, oracle, augur, auspex, magus, clairvoyant, sorcerer, druid

Examples from the Web for haruspex

Historical Examples of haruspex

"He is indispensable to us at this time," said the haruspex.
Uarda, Complete
Georg Ebers
During this speech the haruspex had frequently shrugged his shoulders.
Uarda, Complete
Georg Ebers
The haruspex ordered that the "ill-used man" should be set at liberty.
Uarda, Complete
Georg Ebers
"So long as you are our leader, certainly," cried the haruspex.
Uarda, Complete
Georg Ebers
Manlius assisted in bringing the animals selected for victims to the haruspex.
A Christian But a Roman
Mr Jkai

British Dictionary definitions for haruspex

haruspex

noun plural haruspices (həˈrʌspɪˌsiːz)

(in ancient Rome) a priest who practised divination, esp by examining the entrails of animals

Derived Formsharuspical (həˈrʌspɪkəl), adjectiveharuspicy (həˈrʌspɪsɪ), noun

Word Origin for haruspex

C16: from Latin, probably from hīra gut + specere to look

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for haruspex

1580s, from Latin haruspex (plural haruspices) "soothsayer by means of entrails," first element from PIE *ghere- "gut, entrail" (see yarn); second element from Latin spic- "beholding, inspecting" (see inspect). The practice is Etruscan. Related: Haruspical; haruspication.