hăruspex (ar-), ĭcis, m. [Sanscr. hirā, entrails; Gr. χολάδες, χορδή; cf. hariolus, Curt. Gr. Etym. p. 202 sq.], a soothsayer, diviner among the Etruscans, who foretold future events from the inspection of the entrails of victims; from this people they were introduced among the Romans (syn.: hariolus, augur, auspex, extispex).
I Lit.: haruspices mitte omnis, Plaut. Am. 5, 2, 2: quid enim habet haruspex, cur pulmo incisus etiam in bonis extis dirimat tempus et proferat diem? Cic. Div. 1, 39, 85; cf. id. N. D. 1, 20, 55: Etrusci haruspices, id. Div. 2, 35, 75; cf. id. Leg. 2, 9, 21; Gell. 4, 5, 5: cum haruspices ex tota Etruria convenissent, Cic. Cat. 3, 8, 19: Tyrrhenae gentis haruspex, Ov. M. 15, 577: quem (annum) saepe ex prodigiis haruspices respondissent bello civili cruentum fore, Sall. C. 47, 2; cf.: C. Mario per hostias dis supplicanti magna atque mirabilia portendi haruspex dixerat, id. J. 63, 1: dum sacra secundus haruspex Nuntiet, Verg. A. 11, 739: signaque ferre jubent: retinet longaevus haruspex Fata canens, id. ib. 8, 498; Macr. S. 3, 5, 1: qui de salute principis vel de summa rei publicae haruspices consulit, cum eo qui responderit, capite punitur, Paul. Sent. 5, 21, 3. Cf., on the haruspices, O. Müll. Etrusk. 2, p. 6 sq.—
II Poet. transf., a prophet in gen.: utinam patriae sim vanus haruspex, etc., Prop. 3, 13 (4, 12), 59: Armenius vel Commagenus, Juv. 6, 550.