The original Latin phrase written by Cicero in his letter Letters to Atticus (9.6.5) is:

"At hic quidem augur!"

Word-by-Word Breakdown:

• At: "But" or "Yet" (often used to introduce a sharp, sarcastic, or indignant point).
• hic: "he" or "this man" (referring contemptuously to Curtius Postumus).
• quidem: "indeed", "to be sure", or "forsooth" (an emphatic particle used here to highlight the absurdity of the situation).
• augur: "augur" (the prestigious religious office). [1, 2, 3]

Context of the Latin

The verb "will be" (erit or fiet) is actually omitted in the original Latin. Cicero uses a classic grammatical device known as ellipsis—leaving the verb out entirely because his disgust is so immediate and punchy that the sentence doesn't even need it. [1]

A strict word-for-word translation of Cicero's concise exclamation is: "Yet this man indeed an augur!"translators frequently fill in the implied action as "Yet he, forsooth, is to be an augur!" to fully capture his biting, conversational sarcasm. [1]

Would you like to see the entire Latin passage surrounding this quote, or look at how Cicero used similar sarcastic layout styles against other Caesarians?