aius locutius: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely rareLiterary, historical, academic
Quick answer
What does “aius locutius” mean?
A deified voice from Roman mythology that issued a warning, which went unheeded.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A deified voice from Roman mythology that issued a warning, which went unheeded.
Any unheeded warning or prophecy; a voice or message that cautions of danger but is ignored until it is too late.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the term is equally obscure in all varieties of English.
Connotations
Elicits connotations of classical history, prophecy, tragedy, and the folly of ignoring wise counsel.
Frequency
Virtually never encountered in everyday language. Used only in scholarly works on Roman history or in highly literary, metaphorical prose.
Grammar
How to Use “aius locutius” in a Sentence
served as an Aius Locutiusplayed the role of Aius Locutiusproved to be an Aius LocutiusVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “aius locutius” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The warning had an Aius-Locutius quality to it.
American English
- He gave an Aius Locutius-style prophecy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The analyst's report was an Aius Locutius; management dismissed it before the market crash.'
Academic
Used in historical papers on pre-Marian Rome or studies of Roman religion.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be used.
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside classical studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “aius locutius”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “aius locutius”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aius locutius”
- Misspelling as 'Aius Locutius' (incorrect capitalization).
- Mispronouncing 'Locutius' with a hard 'c' (/k/).
- Using it to mean any voice, rather than specifically an *unheeded* prophetic voice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare classical allusion, used almost exclusively in academic or literary contexts.
According to Roman legend, before the Gallic sack of Rome (c. 390 BCE), a mysterious voice warned the Romans of the coming attack. It was ignored. After the disaster, the Romans propitiated the voice as the deity 'Aius Locutius' (the 'Speaker' or 'Announcer').
You could, but most listeners would not understand the reference without explanation. It is best used in writing for a knowledgeable audience.
Both symbolize unheeded prophecy. Cassandra is a Trojan prophetess cursed that her true prophecies would never be believed. Aius Locutius is a disembodied divine voice whose single recorded warning was ignored. Cassandra is the more common literary figure.
A deified voice from Roman mythology that issued a warning, which went unheeded.
Aius locutius is usually literary, historical, academic in register.
Aius locutius: in British English it is pronounced /ˌaɪəs ləˈkjuːʃəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌaɪəs loʊˈkjuʃəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a voice like Aius Locutius”
- “to suffer the fate of those who ignored Aius Locutius”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I, Aius, LOCate and tell U, but you Ignore US' -> Aius Locutius gives a location-based warning that is ignored.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN UNHEEDED WARNING IS A DIVINE VOICE IGNORED.
Practice
Quiz
What does referring to someone as an 'Aius Locutius' primarily imply?