(in ancient Rome) the interpretation of omens by inspecting the entrails of sacrificial animals.
Example sentencesExamples
The Babylonians claimed that haruspication was the invention of the gods, and that the passions were housed not in the heart, but the liver.
Augustine was preaching on the duty his congregation had to conform with God's word: they must abstain from detestable pagan practices, divination, astrology, haruspication, and the like.
Haruspication has died out more completely than almost any magical rite.
The examination of the liver of a sacrificed sheep, haruspication, was learnt from the Mesopotamians.
Haruspication was at first adopted by the Romans but later fell into disrepute.