extispicious

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin extispicium +‎ -ous.

Adjective[edit]

extispicious (comparative more extispicious, superlative most extispicious)

  1. (rare) Pertaining to divination by examining entrails.
    • 1650, Thomas Browne, “A Further Illustration”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: [], 2nd edition, London: [] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, [], →OCLC, 1st book, page 33:
      Thus hath he deluded many Nations in his Auguriall and Extiſpicious inventions, from caſuall and uncontrived contingences divining events ſucceeding. Which Tuſcan ſuperſtition ſeaſing upon Rome hath ſince poſſeſſed all Europe.
    • 2010, Louise Pattern, Bad Money, page 113:
      Spider had even laughed out loud when Guy chipped in with one of his obscure jokes. 'Given the amount of offal he got through, one might say that he was extispicious.'