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Definition of haruspex

haruspex

/həˈrʌs.pɛks/
ha · rus · pex
Plural:haruspices
•
Adjective:haruspical
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haruspex Lexical Profile

haruspex Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A religious official in ancient Rome who practiced divination by inspecting the entrails (especially the livers) of sacrificed animals to interpret the will of the gods.

Example

"Before the emperor embarked on his military campaign, he summoned a haruspex to examine the liver of a sacrificed sheep for favorable omens."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for haruspex

Word Nuance & Usage

While often conflated with augurs in general historical contexts, a haruspex strictly practiced divination through inspecting animal entrails, whereas an augur typically observed the flight and behavior of birds.

• Nearby Words

hart
hartebeest
hartford
haruspex
harvard
harvest
harvest mouse

Word Origin & Etymology

From Latin 'haruspex' (inspector of entrails), combining an Old Latin element related to Sanskrit 'hirā' (vein, intestine) and the Proto-Indo-European root '*speḱ-' (to observe).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Haruspex. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/haruspex
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