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.