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haruspex

 - 3 dictionary results

ha⋅rus⋅pex

  [huh-ruhs-peks, har-uh-speks]
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–noun, plural ha⋅rus⋅pi⋅ces  [huh-ruhs-puh-seez] .
(in ancient Rome) one of a class of minor priests who practiced divination, esp. from the entrails of animals killed in sacrifice.
Also, aruspex.

Origin:
1575–85; < L, equiv. to haru- (akin to hīra intestine; see chord 1 ) + spec- (s. of specere to look at) + -s nom. sing. ending
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ha·rus·pex   (hə-rŭs'pěks', hār'ə-spěks')   
n.   pl. ha·rus·pi·ces (hə-rŭs'pĭ-sēz') also a·rus·pi·ces (ə-rŭs'pĭ-sēz')
A priest in ancient Rome who practiced divination by the inspection of the entrails of animals.

[Latin; see gherə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

haruspex 
1584, from L. "soothsayer by means of entrails," first element related to L. hernia "rupture," Gk. khorde "gut," Skt. hira "entrails;" second element from L. spic- "beholding, inspecting" (see inspect). The practice is Etruscan.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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