praecōnĭus, a, um, adj. [praeco],
I of or belonging to a praeco or public crier : quaestus, the office or business of a public crier , Cic. Quinct. 31, 95.—
II Subst : praecō-nĭum , ĭi, n.
A The office of a public crier : facere, to be a public crier , Cic. Fam. 6, 18, 1: praeconium me ut detis, make me your auctioneer , Plaut. Men. 5, 9, 93; Suet. Gram. 3.—
B Transf.
1 In gen., a crying out in public; a proclaiming , spreading abroad , publishing (syn. praedicatio): tibi praeconium deferam, Cic. Att. 13, 12, 2; Ap. Met. 6, 7, 10; praeconio contendere, in strength of voice , Suet. Ner. 24: domesticum, Cic. de Or. 2, 20, 86.— Plur. : praeconia famae, Ov. H. 17, 207: peragere praeconia casūs, id. Tr. 5, 1, 9.—
2 In partic., a publishing , celebrating , laudation , commendation (syn.: laudatio, elogium): praeconium alicui tribuere, Cic. Fam. 5, 12, 7: mandare versibus laborum praeconium, id. Arch. 9, 20: formae praeconia, Ov. Am. 3, 12, 9: praeconium facere de Deo, Lact. 1, 4, 2; 4, 14, 19.