AUSCULTARE, in our ancient customs.—In regard the reading of prayers with a graceful tone or accent, makes some impression on the hearers; there was anciently a person appointed, in monasteries, to hear the monks read, who instructed them how to perform it, before they were admitted to read publicly in the church, or before the people—This was call’d auscultare, q. d. to hear, listen, quicunque letturus vel cantaturus est aliquid in monasterio si necesse habeat ab eo, viz. cantore, priusquam incipiat debet auscultare. Lanfranc in Decret. pro Ord. Benedict.
