praecursor, ōris, m. [id.], one who runs before.I.A forerunner, precursor, of a servant, Plin. Pan. 76fin.; 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.— II.Trop.: flos praecursor indolis bonae, Nazar. Pan. Const. 3 med.—III. In milit. lang., an advanced guard, vanguard, Liv. 26, 17 fin.—B.Transf., a scout, spy (cf.: emissarius, speculator), Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 41, 108.