praecōnĭus, a, um, adj. [praeco], of or belonging to a praeco or public crier: quaestus, the office or business of a public crier, Cic. Quint. 31, 95.—II.Subst: praecō-nĭum, ĭi, n.A.The office of a public crier: facere,
to be a public crier
, Cic. Fam. 6, 18, 1: praeconium me ut detis,
make me your auctioneer
, Plaut. Men. 5, 9, 93; Suet. Gram. 3.—B.Transf.1. In gen., a crying out in public; a proclaiming, spreading abroad, publishing (syn. praedicatio): tibi praeconium deferam, Cic. Att. 13, 12, 2; App. M. 6, p. 176, 3: praeconio contendere,
in strength of voice
, Suet. Ner. 24: domesticum, Cic. de Or. 2, 20, 86.—Plur.: praeconia famae, Ov. H. 17, 207: peragere praeconia casūs, id. Tr. 5, 1, 9.—2. In partic., a publishing, celebrating, laudation, commendation (syn.: laudatio, elogium): praeconium alicui tribuere, Cic. Fam. 5, 12, 7: mandare versibus laborum praeconium, id. Arch. 9, 20: formae praeconia, Ov. Am. 3, 12, 9: praeconium facere de Deo, Lact. 1, 4, 2; 4, 14, 19.