haruspex








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

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

noun plural haruspices (həˈrʌspɪˌsiːz)

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

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.

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