noun

praecursor

gen. praecursōris · gender masculine · decl. 3rd

one who runs before

one who runs before.

A forerunner; fin.; one who precedes on the same path •

A forerunner, precursor, of a servant, Plin. Pan. 76 fin.; one who precedes on the same path, Lact. 6, 7, 3.— Esp., the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, Aug. Tract. in Johan. 4, 6; 4, 8.—

figuratively •

Trop.: flos praecursor indolis bonae, Nazar. Pan. Const. 3 med.—

an advanced guard; vanguard

In milit. lang., an advanced guard, vanguard, Liv. 26, 17 fin.—

a scout; spy by extension •

Transf., a scout, spy (cf.: emissarius, speculator), Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 41, § 108.

Perseus ID: n37479 Key: praecursor