1610 Vives in J. Healey Saint Augustine of the Citie of God 294. Diuination generally was done by diuers means...by smoake, Capnomancy.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165. ..Capnomancy, by smoak...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 134: By Capnomancy; O the gallantest and most excellent of all Secrets!
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329. [citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions 252. Kapnomancy, by smoke. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 334 capnomancy, Was the observation of smoke, which consisted in two principal methods. The more important was the smoke of the sacrifices, which augured well if it rose lightly from the altar, and ascended straight to the clouds; but the contrary, if it hung about. Another method was to throw a few jasmine or poppy seeds upon burning coals. There was yet a third practice by breathing the smoke of the sacrificial fire.
1863 William Smith Dict. of the Bible i. 442/2. The other kind of divination was artificial (çîxvikn), and probably originated in an honest conviction that external nature sympathised with and frequently indicated the condition and prospects of mankind... When once this feeling was established the supposed manifestations were infinitely multiplied, and hence the numberless forms of imposture or ignorance called kapnomancy, pyromancy, arithmomancy, libanomancy, botanomancy, kephalomancy, &c. of which there are abundant accounts...
1868 Chambers's Encyc. II 592. capnomancy, a word formed from the Greek capnos, smoke, and manteia, divination. The ancients practised it in two different ways - either they threw grains of jasmine or poppy on the burning coals, and watched the motions and the density of the smoke that rose from them, or they watched the smoke of sacrifices. This latter kind of C. was most generally employed, and that to which the greatest importance was attached. If the smoke was thin, and ascended in a right line, instead of being blown back by the breeze, or spreading over the altar, the augury was good. It was also believed that the inhalation of the smoke rising from the victims or from the fire which consumed them, gifted the priests with prophetic inspiration.
1880 J. Grant Mysteries of all Nations xlii. 382. Divination by means of smoke (Capnomancy) was in use among the ancients in their sacrifices.
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. of Magic ii. 455: capnomancy - Is a kind of divination by means of smoke, used by the ancients in their sacrifices. The general rule was, when the smoke was thin and light, and ascended straight up, it was a good omen.; if on the contrary, it was an ill one. There was another species of Capnomancy, which consisted in observing the smoke arising from poppy and jesamine seed cast upon burning coals. [copied in Daniels & Stevans 1903]
1897 (Agrippa) Three Bks Occult Phil. lvii. 179: To these is also added Capnomancy, so called from smoke, because it searcheth into the flame and smoke; and thin colors, sounds and motions when they are carried upright, or on one side, or round...
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 162. By capnomancy...
1899 Cheyne & Black Encyclopædia Biblica i. 1119/1. Me`nn is one who divines by observing the clouds, a mode of divination well known among the ancients; or perhaps, one who brings clouds, or causes storms (capnomancy).
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1662. [text copied from Howitt 1893]
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154. By capnomancy.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By capnomancy, O the gallantest and most excellent of all secrets!
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Capnomancy, by smoke.
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Capnomancy - by smoke.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden Knowledge 464: CAPNOMANCY: The study of smoke rising from a fire and is performed in varied ways.
1973 K. Ellis Prediction and Prophecy iii. 41. Capnomancy. Divination by the smoke of burning poppy seeds.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy (1989) 314. CAPNOMANCY: Early wise men, observing the smoke from sacrificial fires, noted that if it rose straight, clear weather was in order, hence they pronounced it as a good omen; while if it hung low, a storm threatened, so they called it a bad omen. Such was the origin of capnomancy, which up until modem times was still practiced by the European peasantry, who lighted bonfires on special occasions and let the direction of the smoke decide whether the harvests would be good or bad. The indoor version of this divinatory game was to throw various substances upon a hearth fire and study the resulting smoke or fumes, interpreting them according to stipulated rules.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 144. Capnomancy..was, of course, associated with pyromancy. The smoke from the burnt offerings could be interpreted, or the gods' intentions could be discovered from the smoke produced by burning incense. The appearance and behaviour of the smoke were considered important, as was its smell.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 36/2: Capnomancy. Divination by means of interpreting patterns in smoke...
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x. 1990 Raffel tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel xxv. 308: 'And then there's capnomancy: we put poppy seeds and sesame seeds on hot charcoal...oh, what a marvelous thing, reading those smells, those colors, those crackling sounds!'
1993 McCormack Q&A 70: CAPNOMANCY - smoke.
1626 Cockeram The English Dictionarie (2nd ed.): Capnomancy, Diuination by flying of smoake.
[1611 & 1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng. Tongues Capnomantie: f. Diuination by smoake rising from an altar, whereon Incense, or Poppie seed is burned.]
1656 Blount Glossographia s.v. divination. The
third and last manner of Divination is that which we call
Superstitious, whereof there has been among the Gentiles divers
different kinds. As namely..Capnomancy, by the flying of
smoak.
Ibid. Capnomancy (capnomantia) a
divination by smoke arising from an Altar, whereon Incense or Poppy-
seed is burned. Cotgr.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words: Capnomancy, (Greek) a divination by smoak.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Capnomancy, g. divination by observing the Altar-smoak.
1708 Kersey Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum: Capnomancy, Divination, or South-saying [sic.] by Smoak.
1740 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Dict.: capnomancy (s.) a kind of divination used by the ancients in their sacrifices; as when smoak was thin, light, and went up straight, the omen was good, when the contrary, bad. There was also another species of it, which consisted in observing the smoak rising from poppy and jessamine seeds cast upon lighted coals.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th ed.) CAPNOMANCY [of kàãvoc Smoak, and manteia Divination, Gr.] Divination or Soothsaying by Smoak, arising from an Altar where Incense and Poppy-seed are burnt.
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by smoke from the altar, Capnomancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i. capnomancy..Divination by the ascent and motion of smoke.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang. capnomancy..Divination by smoke.
1888 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I capnomancy.. Divination by the ascent or motion of smoke.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i. capnomancy..Divination by the motions of forms of smoke, it being counted a favorable indication when it rose vertically.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) II
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. capnomancy [minor words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict. capnomancy..Divination by means of smoke. [marked obsolete]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16. capnomancy, altar smoke.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. capnomancy..fortunetelling with smoke.
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.) capnomancy..the study of smoke rising from a fire for divination.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 capnomancy (smoke)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.) 209: capnomancy a form of divination involving smoke.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
NOTES: OED - Healey, then 1663, 1883. Cit 1899 seems incorrect.
1613 Purchas in OED.
1650 N. Homes Daemonologie and Theologie viii. 80: First, It is evident that it is common with Diabolicall Artists, to use Catoptromancy, to divine by Looking-glasses, therein shewing to their enquiring Clyents the shape of ???? and things which they would know.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165: ..Catoxtromancy, by looking glasses...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 133: Her Trippa going on in his Discourse, said by Catoptromancy, likewise held in such account by the Emperor Didius Julianus, That by means thereof, he ever and anon foresaw all that which at any time did happen or befal unto him: Thou shalt not need to put on thy Spectacles; for in a Mirror thou wilt see her as clearly and manifestly Nebrundiated, and Billibodring-it, as if I should shew it in the Fountain of the Temple of Minerva near Parras.
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329. Catoxtromancy [citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: Catoxtromancy... [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1834 J.G. Dalyell Darker Superst. of Scotland 520: Catoptromancy was practised with a mirror, or by a phial and candle, and other means of reflection. On the continent, to divine theft, a damsel approached a phial of holy water, with a taper of sanctified wax, saying, "Angelo bianco, angelo santo, per la tua santita et per le mia virginita mostra mi, che ha tolto tal cosa." The querent beheld a diminutive figure of the offender in the phial.
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions 252. Katoptromancy, by looking-glasses. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 321 catoptromancy, or enoptromancy, Is a species of divination by the mirror, which Pausanius describes in these terms: - "Before the temple of Ceres at Patras there was a fountain, separated from the temple by a wall, and there was an oracle, very truthful, not for all events but for the sick only. The sick persons let down a mirror, suspended by a thread, till its base touched the surface of the water, having first prayed to the goddess and offered incense. Then, looking in the mirror, he saw the presage of death or recovery, according as the face appeared fresh and healthy, or of a ghastly aspect." Another method of using the mirror was to place it at the back of a boy's or girl's head, whose eyes were bandaged. In Thessaly, the response appeared in characters of blood on the face of the moon, probably represented in the mirror. The Thessalian sorceresses derived their art from the Persians, who always endeavoured to plant their religion and mystic rites in the countries they invaded.
1868 Chambers's Encyc. II 687. catoptromancy, divination by the mirror or looking-glass. At Patras, in Greece, the sick foretold their death or recovery by means of a mirror let down with a thread until its base touched water in a fountain before the temple of Ceres. The face of the sick person appearing healthy in the mirror, betokened recovery; if it looked ghastly, then death was sure to ensue. More modern superstitions attach ill-luck to the breaking of a looking-glass, and to seeing one's face in a glass by candle-light.
1880 J. Grant Mysteries of all Nations xlii. 382. Catoptromancy was a species of divination performed by the aid of a mirror. This..was common among the Achaians.
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. of Magic ii. 455: catoptromancy - is another species of divination used by the ancients, performed by means of a mirror. Pausaias says that this method of divination was in use among the Achaians, where those who were sick, and in danger of death, let down a mirror, or looking-glass, fastened by a thread, into a fountain before the temple of Ceres; then, looking into the glass, if they saw a ghastly disfigured face, they took it as a sure sign of death; but on the contrary, if the face appeared fresh and healthy, it was a token of recovery. Sometimes glasses were used without water, and the images of future things, it is said, were represented in them. [copied in Daniels & Stevans 1903]
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 161. By catoptromancy...
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1662. [text copied from Howitt 1893]
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 153. By catoptromancy...
1913 Halliday Greek Div. viii. 150. The most important and best known type of lekanomancy is, or course, divination by the reflection in a bowl of water, ink, or fluid of some kind. Many instruments may be used; divination by a mirror (katoptromancy) and crystal-gazing are only variants of the same superstition.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 95/1: Catoptromancy, or Enoptromancy is a species of divination by the mirror, which Pausanius describes: "Before the temple of Ceres at Patras, there was a fountain, separated from the temple by a wall, and there was an oracle, very truthful, not for all events, but for the sick only. The sick person let down a mirror, suspended by a thread, till its base touched the surface of the water, having first prayed to the goddess and offered incense. Then looking in the mirror, he saw the presage of death or recovery, according as the face appeared fresh and healthy, or of a ghastly aspect." Another method of using the mirror was to place it at the back of a boy's or girl's head, whose eyes were bandaged. In Thessaly, the response appeared in characters of blood on the face of the moon, probably represented in the mirror. The Thessalian sorceresses derived their art from the Persian, who always endeavoured to plant their religion and mystic rites in the countries they invaded.
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of Sorcery (1963) viii. 304: A special place must be given to the divination known as catoptromancy, or crystallomancy, which was performed with a magic mirror or lens. It is one of the most ancient forms of divination.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 360 By Catoptromancy, likewise held in such account by the Emperor Didius Julianus, that by means thereof he ever and anon foresaw all that which at any time did happen or befall unto him.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Catoxtromancy, by looking glasses.
c.1965 D. Garman tr. Flaceliere Greek Oracles i. 15. According to Andr‚ Delatte there were, strictly speaking, two kinds of divination by mirrors, or catoptromancy. 'The one made no appeal to any supernatural power, but relied upon the more or less magical property of any glittering surface... The other kind of catoptromancy had a very clear religious character, and employed invocations to both gods and demons.'
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Catoptromancy - by mirrors.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden Knowledge 464: CATOPTROMANCY: An early form of crystal gazing, utilizing a mirror which was turned to the Moon to catch the lunar rays.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy (1989) 314. CATOPTROMANCY or CATOXTROMANCY: Divination with the aid of a magic mirror. This originated in Persia and spread throughout the ancient world. Two techniques were used: In one, the mirror was suspended in a pool of water; in the other, it was turned to catch the light of the moon. Either way, it showed mysterious reflections revealing future events. This practice increased through the years, reaching its peak during the Middle Ages with such remarkable results that it is highly probable that concave mirrors were used to reflect distorted images or other scenes. However, simple magic mirrors are still used, their surface being painted a glossy black, and some persons who gaze into their depths claim to see visions there.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 150. Mirror-gazing (catoptromancy) is another form of scrying.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 39/1. Catoptromancy. Divination by means of a mirror.
1985 G. Luck Arcana Mundi 254. At least two methods of scrying were used in antiquity. In one the translucent object was a mirror - not necessarily in the modern sense of the word, but a highly polished metal surface, a soldier's shield for instance. This method is called catoptromancy.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1993 McCormack Q&A 70: CATOPTROMANCY - mirrors.
1995 C. Walker Encyc. Secret Knowledge 143:
This example of catoptromancy expresses some of the staple beliefs
about divination.
1626 Cockeram The English Dictionarie (2nd ed.) Catoptromancie, Diuination by visions shewne in a glasse.
[1611 & 1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng. Tongues Catopromantie: [sic] f. Diuination by a looking glasse.]
1656 Blount Glossographia s.v. divination. The
third and last manner of Divination is that which we call
Superstitious, whereof there has been among the Gentiles divers
different kinds. As namely..Catoptromancy, by visions in a
glass.
Ibid. [misplaced between 'cataphor' and 'catapult']
Catoptromantie (catoptromantia) divination by
looking in a glass.
Ibid. Catoptiomancy
(catoptiomantia) divination by vision in a glass.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Catoptromancy, g. divination by visions in a glasse.
1740 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Dict.: catoptromancy (s.) divination, or pretending to fortel things by looking into a glass.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th ed.) CATOPTROMANCY, Divination by Vision, or by looking in a Glass.
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by mirrors, Catoptromancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i. catoptromancy..A species of divination among the ancients, which was performed by letting down a mirror into water, for a sick person to look at his face in it. If his countenance appeared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill omen; if fresh and healthy, it was favourable.
1881 New Sydenham Society's Lexicon I: 1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang. catoptromancy..A sort of divination by the ancinet Greeks, performed for one sick, by looking at his face as reflected in a mirror. Roget.
1889 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I catoptromancy.. A species of divination among the ancients, performed by letting down a mirror into water for a sick person to look at his face in it. If the countenance appeared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill omen; if fresh and healthy, it was favorable.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i. catoptromancy..Gr. Antiq. Divination by means of a mirror let down into water.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) II
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. catoptromancy [main words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict. catoptromancy..Divination by look into a mirror placed in a vessel of water.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16. catotromancy, [sic] mirrors.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. catoptromancy
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. catoptromancy..fortunetelling with mirrors.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 captromancy [sic] (mirrors)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.) 209. catoptromancy a form of divination involving a crystal ball or mirrors.
The word was coined by Gaule from the Greek kottabos the game of kottabos, also the metal basin used in the game. It has not been recorded in the OED or any other dictionary, and appears in Gaule and his copyists. The only modern book on divination to record it is Gibson who gives a catch-all definition and seems unaware of the ancient Greek game. As far as I know none of the popular books on divination or the occult mention the Greek game of kottabos.
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329. [citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Cattabomancy, by vessels of brass or other metal.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 314. CATTABOMANCY: Use of brazen vessels
for special forms of divination.
Derived from thr Greek kausimos fit for burning, from kausis a burning, burning heat. Not recorded in OED or other dictionaries except the Macquarie, where it appears in the erroneous form causinomancy.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden Knowledge 465: CAUSIMOMANCY: This involves divination from objects placed in a fire. If they fail to ignite, or burn slowly, it is a good omen.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy (1989) 314: CAUSIMOMANCY: A form of divination in which articles are thrown into a fire. If any fail to burn when they should, it is regarded as a good omen.
1973 L. Watson Supernature ix. 300: Precoginition means "knowing in advance," and systems of knowing cover just about every possible source of variation. They include..causimomancy (the study of objects placed in the fire)... None of these need be taken seriously...
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.): causinomancy..divination from objects placed in a fire. Note
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 144: Causinomancy Divination from objects cast into a fire.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6: causinomancy
(objects in a fire)
The fine distinction drawn between this and tephramancy in the citation is probably illusory.
Derived from cenero-, a rare, early modern English combining form of Latin cinerem ashes.
This word, along with a number of words listed by Shipley, is not recorded elsewhere. The form of the word is consistent with 17th century spelling. The OED records cenereous and ceneritious as "erroneous" forms of cinereous and cineritious. Perhaps Shipley knew of some source that I have not yet discovered.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 17:
ceneromancy, ashes; tephramancy, tracings in ashes.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165. ..Cephaleonomancy, by brayling of an Asses head...
[1713 Fabricii Bibliographia Antiquaria xii. 413: Cephalonomantia, ex capite asini tosto.]
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329. [citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions 252. Cephaleonomancy, by asses' heads. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1663. cephalonomancy - Divination by broiling an ass's head on coals. The jaws were said to move at the name of the guilty person.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 243/1: Kephalonomancy: A method of divination which is practised by making divers signs on the baked head of an ass. It was familiar to the Germans and the Lombards substituted for it the head of a goat. The ancients placed lighted carbon on an ass's head, and pronounced the names of those who were suspected of any crime. If a crackling coincided with the utterance of a name, the latter was taken as being that of the guilty person.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Cephalonomancy, by broiling an ass's head.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 140/2: Kephalonomancy. Bizarre method of divination among the Lombards in which lighted carbon would be poured on the baked head of a goat, and the names of those accused of crimes would be called out. If crackling occurred, it was assumed that the person whose name had been called was guilty as accused. This form of divination was also practised using the head of an ass.
[1611 & 1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng.
Tongues Cephaleonomanie. [sic] Diuination by an asses
head broyled on coles.
1656 Blount Glossographia s.v. divination. The
third and last manner of Divination is that which we call
Superstitious, whereof there has been among the Gentiles divers
different kinds. As namely..Cephaleonomancy, by an Asses
head broiled on coals.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Cephaleonomancy,
g. Divination by a broil'd Asses head.
1889 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) II
cephalonomancy.. A kind of divination formerly practised in
detecting guilt. Lighted coals having been placed on the head of an ass,
prayers were recited, the names of suspected persons pronounced at
random. The one whose name happened to be called at the moment that
the ass brayed with pain was assumed to be guilty.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.
cephalonomancy...fortunetelling by boiling an ass's head.
In all likelihood the word 'boiling' in Urquhart is a typographical
error for 'broiling', since the method required viewing the falling
or movement of the donkey's jaw-bone and the precise time this happened,
a thing not easily determined whilst boiling. Further the boiling of
something 'upon hot coals' is nonsense, one boils something 'in some
liquid'. This error has been copied in later editions of Urquhart, and
also found its way into later -mancy lists. This form of the word
literally means 'divination by a head' and would thus apply to any sort
of head divination, whereas 'cephaleonomancy' literally means 'divination
be an ass's head'.
[1713 Fabricii Bibliographia Antiquaria xii. 413:
Cephalomantia, ex capite s[ive] cranio mortui.]
1863 William Smith Dict. of the Bible i. 442/2:
The other kind of divination was artificial (çîxvikn), and probably
originated in an honest conviction that external nature sympathised with
and frequently indicated the condition and prospects of mankind...
When once this feeling was established the supposed manifestations
were infinitely multiplied, and hence the numberless forms of imposture
or ignorance called kapnomancy, pyromancy, arithmomancy,
libanomancy, botanomancy, kephalomancy, &c. of which there are
abundant accounts...
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii.
xxv. 162. By cephalomancy, often practised amongst the High
Germans, in their boiling of an ass's head upon burning coals.
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154. [as above]
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of
Sorcery (1963) viii. 302: Cephalomancy was divination by a
donkey's head...
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By
cephalomancy, often practised amongst the High Germans, in their
boiling of an ass's head upon burning coals.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 465: CEPHALOMANCY: Divinatory procedures using
the skull or head of a donkey of goat.
1973 K. Ellis Prediction and Prophecy
iii. 41: Kephalomancy. Divination by the crackling of a
donkey's head when burnt.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 314. CEPHALOMANCY: A weird and
long-obsolete rite of boiling a donkey's head for divinatory purposes.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 142.
Cephalomancy Predicting from the skull or head of a donkey
or goat.
1993 McCormack Q&A 70 CEPHALOMANCY -
boiling an asses head.
In Dictionaries
1727 Bailey The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. i
CEPHALOMANCY [cephalomantia, L. of kîíà^omanteia
Gr. kîíà^oc the Head and manteia Divination] a Divination by the
Head of an Ass, which they broiled on the Coals, and after having
muttered a few prayers, they repeated the Persons Names or the Crime,
in Case only one was suspected, at which if the Jaws made any Motion
and the Teeth chattered against one another, they thought the Person
that had done the ill Deed sufficiently discovered.
1889 OED
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
cephalomancy..Divination by means of a head, as by boiling
or by placing coals of fire upon an ass's head.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) supp. - cites OED
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. cephalomancy [minor
words list]
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.)
cephalomancy..divination by study of the skull or head of a
donkey or goat.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 cephalomancy
(skull shape)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. cephalomancy a form of divination involving the head.
Derived from ancient Greek keraunos thunder, a thunderbolt.
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. ceraunomancy a form of divination involving thunder or
thunderbolts.
1640 in Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 337.
Dr. Ferrand, in his Love Melancholy, 1640, p. 177, mentions the "kinde
of divination by the opening of a booke at all adventures..." He
adds, "I shall omit to speak here of astragalomancy, that was
done with huckle bones; ceromancy, and all other such like
fooleries."
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165.
..Carromancy, by melting of Wax...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 134: By Ceromancy,
where, by the means of Wax dissolved into Water, thou shalt see the
Figure, Poutrait and lively Representation of thy future Wife, and of her
Fredin Fredaliatory Belly-thumping Blades.
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329.
Carramancy [citing Gaule, though changing spelling]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: Carromancy, by
melting of wax. [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Ceromancy, by the melting of wax. [citing
Hone citing Gaule]
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii.
xxv. 162. By ceromancy...
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci.
(1971) III 1663. ceromancy - Divination by the forms assumed by
melted wax dropped into water.
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154. By ceromancy...
c.1910 Americana s.v. divination: There are
many namesfor the different modes of prognosticating the future...
The following by no means exhaust the list..ciromancy, by
wax...
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By
ceromancy, where, by the means of wax dissolved into water, thou shalt
see the figure, portrait, and lively representation of thy future wife, and
of her fredin fredaliatory belly-thumping blades.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Carromancy, by melting of wax.
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Ceromancy -
by molten wax dropped into water.
1973 Collier's Encyc. x. 211/1: Ciromancy...wax
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 314. CEROMANCY: A time-honored divination
performed by melting pure wax in a brass bowl and pouring it slowly
into another bowl filled with water, so that it forms various shapes,
which are duly interpreted by the diviner. Special listings were made of
those, so that ceromancy became a widespread art, which fortunately
has survived in the form of tasseomancy, as described in Chapter V.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 154. In
ceromancy, melted wax is allowed to drip into a shallow dish of cold
water, and the resulting shapes are interpreted. Ceromancy was very
popular in the eighteenth century, when correspondence was normally
fastened with sealing wax.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 40/2:
Divination by means of inspecting melted wax. In the Middle Ages, the
magician would melt wax in a brass vessel and then pour it onto cold
water in another container. The congealed wax globules would then be
symbolically interpreted.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1993 McCormack Q&A 70. CEROMANCY -
melted wax dropped in water.
[1611 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng.
Tongues Ceromantie: f. Diuination, or soothsaying, by wax put into
water.
1656 Blount Glossographia s.v. divination. The
third and last manner of Divination is that which we call
Superstitious, whereof there has been among the Gentiles divers
different kinds. As namely..Ceromantie, by wax put into water.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Ceromancy,
divination by wax in water.
1727 Bailey The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. i
CEROMANCY [ceromantia, L. of kîpomanteia of kîpoc
Wax, and manteia Divination] Divination by Wax. The Manner was
thus, they melted Wax over a Vessel of Water, letting it drop within 3
Definite Spaces, and observed the Figure, Situation, Distance and
Concretion of the Drops.
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by dropping melted
wax into water, Ceromancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.
ceromancy..Divination by dropping melted wax into water.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
ceromancy..Divination by melted wax. Crabb.
1889 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) II
ceromancy.. Divination from the forms assumed by drops of
melted wax let fall into water.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
ceromancy..Divination by inspection of melted wax dropped
into water.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) II
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. ceromancy [minor
words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict.
ceromancy..Divination from the forms assumed by melting wax
dropped into water.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
ceromancy, melted wax on water.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. ceromancy
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. ceromancy..fortunetelling
with melted wax dropped in water.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 ceromancy
(melted wax)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. ceromancy a form of divination involving dropping
melted wax into water.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Chalcomancy, by vessles of brass, or other
metal. [supposedly citing Hone citing Gaule]
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
chalcomancy..Divination with a copper cup.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. chalcomancy [minor
words list]
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 314. CHALCOMANCY: Divination by striking
bowls of copper or brass. Such tones were given definite interpretations
at the ancient Oracle of Dodona.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. chalcomancy a form of divination involving brass
vessels.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 99/2: Chaomandy:
(See Ceraunoscopy.) [= "Divination practised by the ancients by the
examination of the phenomena of the air."]
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 35:
Chaomancy: Divination by observing and interpreting atmospheric
appearances.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 315. CHAOMANCY: A medley of ancient
divinations based on atmospheric conditions in general, some of which
survive as modern superstitions.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 148.
Chaomancy Divination from aerial visions.
In Dictionaries
1650 French Chymical Dictionary (1674) 317:
Chaomancy is an Art of presaging by the Air.
1656 Blount Glossographia
Chaomancy; a kind of divination by air.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Chaomancy,
divination by the air.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th
ed.) CHAOMANTIA [of Xàoc Chaos, and manteia Divination,
Gr.] the Skill of Prognosticating by Observations of the Air.
CHAOMANTICA Signa [among Paracelsians] those
Prognoticks that are taken from Observations of the Air.
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by appearances in
the air, Aeromancy, Chaomancy...
1881 New Sydenham Society's Lexicon I:
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
chaomancy..Divination by appearances in the air.
Roget.
1889 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) II
chaomancy.. Divination by means of the atmosphere or by
ae???rial visions; clairvoyance; second sight. [marked obsolete]
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
chaomancy..Fortune-telling by aerial apparitions.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) II
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. chaomancy [minor
words list; labelled rare]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
chaomancy, clouds.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 chaomancy (gas)
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. chaomancy a form of divination involving aerial visions.
NOTES: OED Blount, then 'chaomantia' in Chamber's Encyc. 1753,
then "1775 Ash, etc." Labels 'rare-0'. Pre-dated.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165.
..Chartomancy, by writing in papers...
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329.
[citing Gaule] ..Chartomancy, by writing in papers [adding]
(this is retained in choosing Valentines, &c.)...
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: Chartomancy, by
writing in papers; as in choosing valentines, &c. [citing Gaule (via
Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Chartomancy, by writing in papers, and by
Valentines. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Chartomancy, by writing in papers.
1973 Collier's Encyc. x. 211/1: Chartomancy
(Cartomancy)...cards, usually the Tarot
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 315. CHARTOMANCY: Divination by writing or
interpreting inscriptions, sometimes of mysterious origin. Predictions
written in invisible ink, which appears when papers are heated, come in
this general category. So do greeting cards.
1889 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) II
chartomancy.. Divination or fortune-telling by means of cards
or written papers.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
chartomancy..Same as cartomancy.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) II
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. chartomancy [minor words list]
This curious word was sometimes (faithfully) copied into later editions
of Urquhart. Most editions of Urquhart silently correct the mistake, and
later translations of Rabelais follow the French and give
cleromancy - see citations 1951, 1955. However, some alter
it to cheromancy, an equally spurious form.
Neither form is recorded in OED, though this would have made a
nice story, and explained the word to some undoubetdly mystified
English readers of Rabelais.
The original passage in Rabelais read:
Urquhart had made mention of this custom in an earlier
work. According to Brand Popular Antiquities i. 23:
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii.
xxv. 162. By cheromancy, as the bean is found in the cake at the
Epiphany vigil.
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Five Books of the Lives,
Heroic Deeds and Sayings of Gargantua and his son
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154. By cheromancy, as the bean is found in
the cake at the Epiphany vigil.
c1928 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua and
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 487. By Cheromomancy, as the Bean is found
in the Cake at the Epiphany Vigil.
The element 'chilo-' is normally used in scientific compounds to
signfy 'lip', from New Latin chilo-, from Greek
cheilos lip.
[text copied in] 1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc.
Occult Sci. (1971) III 1662.
c1450 Metham Palm. 84/3. (MED)
Thales Mylesyes..fyrst dyd wryte the syens off cyromancy in the
langage of Parce.
a1475 Lydgate Pilgr. 21158 (MED)
Cyromancye, To telle the dysposiciouns Off ffolk and ther condyciouns.
1597 King James Daemonologie (1924) 14. Of
this roote last spoken of [sc. astrology], springs innumerable
branches; such as the knowledge of natiuities; the Chiromancie,
Geomantie, Hydromantie, Arithmantie, Physiognomie: & a thousand
others: which were much practiced, & holden in great reuerence by the
Gentiles of olde.
1603 Christopher Heydon A Defence of Ivdiciall
Astrolgie 356 ..sure I am that it is altogether impertient, and his
iudgement quite out of tune, in comparing Astrologie with
Aruspicie, Hydromancie, Chiromancie,
Choschinomancy, and such like.
1610 Vives in J. Healey Saint Augustine of the Citie
of God 294. Diuination generally was done by diuers means...or by
lines in the hand, Chiromancy.
1618 B. Holyday Tîxvoyàæià, or the Marriage of
the Arts II. iii. ll. 56-69 (G1v): Geom. You'l give me all
this in writing Sir, woun't you? Magus. Yes Sir, yes. Then
there are divers kinds of your Magicke, as Necromancie,
Anthropomancie, Gastromancie, Cheiromancie, Coscinomancy....
Geom. I Pray, doe you your self know how many there are in
all? Magus. Sir, One and twentie. Ile begin them over againe, if
you will. Necromancie, Anthropomancie.... Geom. Nay, good
Sir hold, we have had enough alreadie: But I perceive you Magicians
have admirable memories to get hard words by heart; I marvaile you
doe not turn Dictionary-makers: Why? I warrent there's no hard word
but you can tell the meaning on't: you'd put all their noses out of ioynt
quite.
1620 J. Melton Astrologaster 71: If they fore-tell
things that shall happen by signes that they see in lines of a mans hand;
then it is called Chyromancie...
1621 R. Burton Anatomy of Melancholy I. ii. i.
iv. (1827) I. 84: Other signs there are taken from physiognomy,
metopscopy, chiromancy, which because Joh. de Ingadine, and Rotman
(the landgrave of Hassia his mathematician) not long since in his
Chiromancy, Baptista Porta, in his celestial Physiognomy, have proved
to hold great affinity with astrology, to satisfie the curious, I am more
willing to insert.
1650 Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica (2nd ed.)
230 [we] are not ready to admit..that there is much considerable in that
doctrine of Cheiromancy, that spots in the top of nailes doe signifie
things past; in the middle, things present; and at the bottome, events to
come.
1650 French tr. Paracelsus Nine Books Of the Nature
of Things (1674) ix. 276: Now Chiromancy is an Art, which doth
not only look into the hands of men, and make judgement by their lines
and wrinkles, but also considers all hearbs, woods, hard stones, earths,
and rivers, and whatsoever hath lines, veins, or wrinkles. Neither does
this Art want its errours, which those Astronomers were guilty of. For
they assigned the fingers of the hands to the planets, and chiefest stars,
whereas there are but five fingers in one hand, and in both ten, yet
these planets are reckoned but seven. How then can these things agree
amongst themselves?
1651 J. Ingadine tr. Fabian Withers Bk of Palmestry
& Physiognomy a6v: The Ancient Greeks, who (as it may appear
by the long and old use of the wand) did use this sort and kinde of
Divination which is gathered by the beholding of mans hand, called it
by the proper name of Chyromancia.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165.
..Chiromancy, by the hands...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel III. xxv. 130: Hard by here,
in the Brown-wheat-Island, dwelleth Her Trippa; you know how by the
Arts of Astrology, Geomancy, Chiromancy, Metopomancy, and others
of a like stuff and nature, he foretelleth all things to come...
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329.
[citing Gaule]
1797 Encyc. Brit. (3rd ed.) VII 66.
Chiromancy is the art which teaches to know, by inspection the
hand, not only the inclination of a man, but his future destiny also. The
fools or imposters who practice this art pretend, that the different parts
or the lines of the hand have a relation to the internal parts of the body,
as some to the heart, others to the liver, spleen, &c. On this false
supposition, and on many others equally extravagant, the principles of
chiromancy are founded: and on which, however, several authors, as
Robert Flud an Englishman, Artemidorus, M. de la Chambre, John of
Indagina, and many others have written large treatises.
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: [citing Gaule (via
Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Chiromancy, by the hands. [citing Hone
citing Gaule]
1855 Henry Thompson in Smedley et al. Occult
Sci. 296 Among the Arabs the science of prognostication (Ilmi
fir set) or art of discovering secret objects by the interpretation of
mysterious indications, known only to adepts, is subdivided into twelve
branches: 1. Physiognomy, (fir sah;) 2. Phantasmognomy,
(kha‹latwa-sham t;) 3. Chiromancy, ( s s¡r;)...
1868 Chambers's Encyc. II 787.
cheiromancy..or palmistry, a form of divination that professes to
read the destiny of an individual by the lineaments of the hand. In the
middles ages, C. occupied the attention of Cardan, Paracelsus, and other
eminent men, who elaborated it into a system. It is now, however, the
exclusive property of the gipsies, who still find among maid-servants
sufficient credulity to make its practice profitable.
1871 Tylor Primitive Culture (1891) i. iv. 125.
Chiromancy traces in the marking of the palm a line of fortune and a
line of life, finds proof of melancholy in the intersections on the
saturnine mount, presages sorrow and death from black spots in the
finger-nails, and at last, having exhausted the powers of this childish
symbolism, it completes its system by details of which the absurdity is
no longer relieved by even an ideal sense.
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. of Magic ii. 456:
1939 J. Trachtenberg Jewish Magic 216: Among
these [sc. divinatory methods] were the rather technical skills
os Anthroposcopy (divining by the features) and Chiromancy (by the
hand), still as widely pursued today as ever.
1947 N.K. Basu Art of Love in Orient iii. 78:
Astrology, Astronomy, Palmistry and Chiromancy, not to speak of other
branches of art, science and metaphysics, attained a high degree of
perfection in India long before and the advent of Christ.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 358 Hard by
here, in the Brown-wheat [Bouchart] Island, dwelleth Her Trippa. You
know how by the arts of astrology, geomancy, chiromancy,
metopomancy, and others of a like nature, he foretelleth all things to
come; let us talk a little, and confer with him about our business.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Chiromancy, by the hands.
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Cheiromancy -
by the hands.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 315. CHEIROMANCY or CHIROMANCY:
Divination from the palm and hand.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 12. The experts
prefer more resonantly impressive terms like "chirognomy,"
"chirology," or "chiromancy"...
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1990 Raffel tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel
xxv. 306: 'You know how, using astrology, geomancy, chiromancy,
physiognomy, and other such stuff, he predicts everything that's going
to happen.'
1993 McCormack Q&A 70 CHIROMANCY,
PALMISTRY - the hand.
1995 C. Walker Encyc. Secret Knowledge 146:
Modern palmistry differs from the ancient methods in
concentrating on what is called chirognomy at the
expense of chiromancy.
1616 Bullokar An English Expositor s.v.
divination. Palmistry or Chiromancie, is a diuination
practised, by looking vpon the lines of the fingers and hands, an art still
in vse, among fortune tellers, Egyptians, and iuglers.
1626 Cockeram The English Dictionarie (2nd ed.)
Chyromancy, Diuination by the palme of the hand.
[1611 & 1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng.
Tongues Chiromantie: Palmistrie; a guessing at ones fortune by the
markes, or making, of his hand.]
1650 French Chymical Dictionary (1674) 319:
Chiromancy according to Paracelsus doth not treat of
the lineaments of the hands only, but also the whole body, and not only
of men, but all natural things besides.
1656 Blount Glossographia s.v. divination. The
third and last manner of Divination is that which we call
Superstitious, whereof there has been among the Gentiles divers
different kinds. As namely..Palmistry or Chiromancy,
by looking on the lines of the fingers and hands.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words:
Chiromancy...
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Chiromancy,
Palmestry, divination by the hand-lines.
1708 Kersey Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum:
Chiromancy...
1740 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Dict.:
chiromancy...
1727 Bailey The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. i
CHIROMANTICALLY..by Chiromancy or Palmistry.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th
ed.) CHIROMANCER [of Xîipoæàvçnc, Gr.] a Person skilled in the
Art of Chiromancy. CHIROMANCY [Xîipomanteia, of xîip a
Hand, and manteia Divination, Gr.] a ridiculous Divination,
pretending to discover the Constitutions and Tempers of Persons, and to
foretel Events by the Wrinkles, Lines, and Marks in the Hand.
CHIROMANTICAL [Xîipoæàvçikoc, Gr.] belonging to
Chiromancy.
1755 Johnson Dict. of the Eng. Lang. (1840)
Chiromancy..The art of foretelling the events of life, by inspecting the
hand.
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by the hand,
Palmistry, Chiromancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.
chiromancy..Divination by the hand; the art or practice of attempting
to foretell events, or to discover the dispositions of a person, by
inspecting the lines and lineaments of his hand.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
chiromancy..Divination by inspecting the lines of the hand;
palmistry. Burton.
1889 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) II
chiromancy.. Divination by the hand; the art or practice of
attempting to foretell the future of a person by inspecting the line and
lineaments of his hand; palmistry practised with reference to the future;
also, palmistry in general.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
chiromancy...
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) II
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. chiromancy [main
words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict.
chiromancy..Divination by means of the hand; palmistry.
1932 Wyld Universal Dict.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
chiromancy, palm reading.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. chiromancy
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.)
chiromancy..the art of telling a person's fortune and character
by the hand.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 chiromancy (hand)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. chiromancy, cheiromancy palmistry.
1987 Random House Dict.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
Etymology
Variant Forms
Citations
Not recorded in Randle Cotgrave's Dict. of the French & English
Tongues, which cites many Rabelaisian words and was that used
by Urquhart when translating.
For some reason the word was omitted by OED. This is strange since
the OED records many other -mancy words on the basis of a
single quotation, and even records stichomancy with the sole
citation being that of Urquhart's Rabelais. The word does not
appear in any other occult/divination texts.
Variant Forms
The variant form, namely: choeromancy, choeromancy,
and choiromancy, all show editorial substitution of the normal
connective -o-, where Urquhart has -a-.
Citations
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel III. xxv. 134: By
Choiramancy: Let us have a great many Hogs, and thou shalt have the
Bladder of one of them.
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii.
xxv. 162: By choeromancy, let us have a great many hogs, and thou
shalt have the bladder of one of them.
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154: By choiromancy...
c1928 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua and
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 487: By Choiramancy...
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361: By
choeromancy, let us have a great many hogs, and thou shalt have the
bladder of one of them.
This rare word, not recorded elsewhere, is derived from the
Greek chresmos an oracular pronouncement, a prophecy.
Itself a derivative of the Greek chrao to pronounce,
to proclaim, to give a needful answer, stemming from a basic
meaning "to furnish what is needful". The given definition is
referring to the fact that ancient Greek oracles used to go
into a state of divine frenzy in order to gain information
from the gods so that they might make an oracular statement. A
better definition would seem to be "oracular divination".
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 315: CHRESMOMANCY: Divination from the
utterances of a person in a frenzy. This dates back to the famous Greek
Oracle of Delphi.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict.: chronomancy ..
formerly esp. in China.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209: chronomancy a divination to determine the precise time
for action.
Neither of these are recorded in OED.
(cledonismantia)
1855 Edward Smedley in Smedley et al. Occult
Sci. 327: cledonism, Or, in full, Cledonismantia, is good or
evil presage of certain words uttered without premeditation when
persons come together in any way; it also regulated the words to be
used on particular occasions. Cicero says the Pythagoreans were very
attentive to these presages; and according to Pausanius, it was a
favourite method of divination at Smyrna, where the oracles of Apollo
were thus interpreted.
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci.
(1971) III 1662: cledonismancy - Relates to the first words uttered
upon meeting, after the salutations.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 105/1: [copying
Smedley]
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 37:
Cledonismantia; cledonism: The belief in and divination of the good or
evil portent of certain spontaneously spoken words when meeting
another person or other persons.
Derived from ancient Greek kledon an omen, a presage contained
in a word, sound or chance utterance.
(cledomancy)
Not in OED. Orig. source of 'cledomancy' still lost!
1913 Halliday Greek Div. x. 229. One of the
most important of the methods of divination of the kleromantic order is
kledonomancy. We have earlier had occasion to notice the importance
which attaches to the spoken word. Kledonomancy is originally nothing
more than the acceptance of the fatal word or of the spoken omen.
c.1965 D. Garman tr. Flaceliere Greek
Oracles i. 9. Cledonomancy was particularly concerned with the
etymological meaning of words, especially of names, in which the
Greeks always showed a marked interest.
1970 B.I. Rakoczi in Man, Myth & Magic v.
659/1: Pausanias (2nd century AD) gives an example of cledonomancy.
A man was not sure weather to marry a young woman of his own clan
or a rich woman of more exalted rank. While thinking over the
problem, he heard a child at play with his fellows shout, 'Take care of
yourself' which he at once understood to mean that he should marry the
rich one!
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 44/2:
Cledonomancy. Divination by heeding chance remarks or events.
1855 Edward Smedley in Smedley et al. Occult
Sci. 326 clidomancy Should be exercised when the sun or moon
is in Virgo, the name should be written upon a key, the key should be
tied to a Bible, and both should be hung upon the nail of the ring-
finger or a virgin, who must thrice softly repeat Exurge Domine,
adjuva nos et redime nos propter nomen sanctum tuum. According
as the key and book turns or is stationary, the name is to be considered
right or wrong. Some ancients added the seven Psalms with litanies and
sacred prayers, and then more fearful effects were produced upon the
guilty; for not only the key and book turned, but either the impression
of the key was found upon him, or he lost an eye, whence came the
Proverb, Ex oculo quoque excusso hodie for cognoscitur.
Another method of practising with the Bible and key is to place the
street door key on the fiftieth-psalm. close the volume and fasten it
very tightly with the garter of a female; it is then suspended to a nail
and will turn when the name of the thief is mentioned. By a third
method, two persons suspend the Bible between them; holding the ring
of the key by their two forefingers.
c.1910 Americana s.v. divination: There are
many namesfor the different modes of prognosticating the future...
The following by no means exhaust the list..cleidomancy, by
keys...
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 105/2: [copying
Smedley]
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of
Sorcery (1963) viii. 303: Cleidomancy was performed with a key
suspended from a thread from the nail of a young virgin's third finger,
this verse from the Psalms being repeated meanwhile: "Exurge,
Domine, adjuva nos, et redime nos propter nomen sanctum tuum." The
key would revolve if the thing asked could be affirmed.
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 37:
Clidomancy: Divination using a Bible and a hanging key, interpreting
the movements of the latter.
1963 M. Bessy Pict. Hist. Magic & Supernatural
41: There was also..clidomancy (key)...
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 465: CLIDOMANCY (CLEIDOMANCY): This is
worked with a dangling key which answers questions.
1973 Collier's Encyc. x. 211/1: Cleidomancy...keys
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 315. CLEIDOMANCY or CLIDOMANCY: A
very mysterious form of divination in which a key is suspended by a
thread several inches in length, which in turn is wrapped about a
person's finger, so that the dangling key can rotate, swing back and
forth or become immobile. Upon questions being asked, mentally or
verbally, the answers are interpreted according to the actions of the key.
From this has developed a popular modern device termed the
"exploratory pendulum," which consists of a ball hanging from a string,
which should revolve for "Yes" and swing for "No" - or vice versa,
according to tests with individual operators. The pendulum is also
supposed to swing in the correct direction when looking for a lost
article or missing person in the actual locality or when held above a
map. In earlier forms of cleidomancy, more elaborate measures were
used, one favorite method being to open a Bible at a certain Psalm or
at the first page of a specific gospel. A large key was inserted there,
with its loop extending up from the pages, and the book was firmly tied
with string to hold the key in place. The loop of the key is then hung
upon the third finger of a girl's left hand and either she or a diviner
recites scriptural quotations according to an established formula. In
another variant, the key is held in place by two persons, each pressing a
forefinger against an opposite edge. Either way, names of persons are
finally called off, and if one happens to be guilty of some theft or other
crime, the key is supposed to turn at mention of his name.
1980 Kathryn Paulsen Complete Book of Magic and
Witchcraft (revised ed.) vii. 39: Cleidomanct
[sic] - by
means of a key, or by words people chance to say, sometimes the
last words spoken in a conversation.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 66. Other forms of
the art [sc. radiesthesia] included divination with a suspended
key (cleidomancy) or a suspended ring (dactylomancy) - methods that
are still in use today.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1889 OED.
1899 Century Dict. (1902) II
clidomancy.. Divination by means of a key, especially by
means of a key fastened in a Bible or other book, the object being to
ascertain who is to be one's lover or sweetheart. When the right name
is mentioned or the initial letter uttered, the book and key are expected
to move in the hands of the person who holds them. Formerly this
method was used to detect those guilty of theft. Also
cleidomancy.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
cleidomancy..Divination by means of a key and a book,
especially the Bible. clidomancy\ddag .
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) supp. - clido-
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. s.v. cleido-, clido-
[main words list]
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. s.v. cleid-
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.)
clidomancy..divination by means of a dangling key that
supposedly answers questions.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 clidomancy (key)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. cleidomancy, clidomancy a form of divination involving
a key or keys.
1610 Vives in J. Healey Saint Augustine of the Citie
of God 294. Diuination generally was done by diuers means...or by
lottes, Cleromancy.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165.
..Cleromancy, by lotts...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel - see cheromomancy.
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329.
[citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: [citing Gaule (via
Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Kleromancy, by lots. [citing Hone (citing
Gaule)]
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 334
cleromancy, Was practised by throwing black and white beans, little
bones or dice, and, perhaps, stones; anything, in short, suitable for
kl‚roi or lots. A method of practising cleromancy in the streets
of Egypt is mentioned under the head of Sortilege, and the same
thing was common in Rome. The Thriæan lots, named on the same
page, meant indifferently the same thing as cleromancy: it was nothing
more than dicing, only that the objects used bore particular
marks or characters, and were consecrated to Mercury, who was
regarded as the patron of this method of divination. For this reason an
olive leaf, called "the lot of Mercury," was generally put in the urn in
order to propitiate his favour.
1880 J. Grant Mysteries of all Nations xl. 369.
Cleromancy was performed by the throwing of dice.
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. of Magic ii. 454:
cleromancy - Is a kind of divination performed by the throwing of
dice or little bones; and observing the points or marks turned up. At
Bura, a city of Achaia, a celebrated Temple of Hercules, where such as
consulted the oracle, after praying to the idol, threw four dice, the
points of which being well scanned by the priest, he was supposed to
draw an answer from them. [copied in Daniels & Stevans 1903]
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais -
see cheromomancy.
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci.
(1971) III 1662. [text copied from Howitt 1893]
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154. - see cheromomancy.
1913 Halliday Greek Div. x. 205. kleromancy
[chapter heading] The appeal in cases of doubt or uncertainty to the fall
of the lot is familiar in modern life.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 105/2: [copying
Rich]
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By
cleromancy, as the bean is found in the cake at the Epiphany vigil.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Cleromancy, by lots.
c.1965 D. Garman tr. Flaceliere Greek
Oracles i. 17. Cleromancy was practised not only at Dodona but at
the majority of the oracles in Greece; even..at Delphi. The reason for
this is more easily understood when we realize that in the opinion of
the ancients the drawing of lots was governed, not by chance, but by
the will of the gods.
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Cleromancy -
by dice or lots.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 465: CLEROMANCY: A form of lot casting, akin to
divination with dice, but simply using pebbles or other odd objects,
often of different colors instead of marked cubes.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 315. CLEROMANCY: An ancient mode of
casting lots, with pebbles, beans, or other objects of different shapes,
colors, or markings. As a variation, slips of paper were used, each
bearing a different symbol, which persons picked at random for
appropriate interpretation.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 104. Cleromancy
was also used to supplement prophecy: the oracle at Delphi used beans
as lots.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1990 Raffel tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel
xxv. 309: 'Or might you prefer cleromancy--the way you hunt for the
bean hidden in the cake, on Epiphany Eve?
1626 Cockeram The English Dictionarie (2nd ed.)
(reverse dictionary) Diuination by lots, Cleromancy.
1656 Blount Glossographia s.v. divination. The
third and last manner of Divination is that which we call
Superstitious, whereof there has been among the Gentiles divers
different kinds. As namely..Sorcery or Cleromancy, by
lots.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words:
Cleromancy, (Greek) a divination by lots.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Cleromancy,
g. Divination by lots or dice.
1708 Kersey Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum:
Cleromancy, (G.) a Sooth-saying, or fortune-telling by lots, or the
throwing of Dice.
1740 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Dict.:
cleromancy...
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th
ed.) CLEROMANCY [of K^npoc, a Lot, and manteia, Gr. a
Prophecy] Soothsaying, or telling Fortune by Dice, or by throwing Lots.
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by dice,
Cleromancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.
cleromancy..Divination by throwing dice or little bones, and
observing the points or marks turned up.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
cleromancy..Divination dice or by casting lots. Crabb.
1889 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) II
cleromancy.. Divination by throwing dice or lots, and
interpreting according to certain rules the points or marks turned up.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
cleromancy..Divination with dice or beans; sortilege.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) II
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. cleromancy [minor
words list; labelled rare]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict.
cleromancy..Divination by casting lots with dice.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
cleromancy, dice.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. cleromancy
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.
cleromancy..fortunetelling with dice.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 cleromancy (dice)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. cleromancy astragalomancy.
1987 Random House Dict.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
1990 Raffel tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel
xxv. 309: '...Or perhaps cock-mancy? I'll draw a perfect cicle right here
and, while you're watching, I'll divide it into twenty-four equal
portions. Under each one I'll put a letter of the alphabet; under each
letter I'll put a grain of wheat; and then I'll let a good virgin cock go
across: you'll see, I swear it, how he-ll eat the grains under the letters
C U C K O L D...
1709 J. Stevens tr. Quevedo's Com. Wks. (ed. 2) 374:
There are lines in the Neck, the Forehead, the Lips, the Hams, the
Elbows, and the bottom of the Buttocks..and therefore..as there is
Chiromancy, there ought to be Frontimancy, Collimancy, Pedimancy,
Natimancy.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16:
conchomancy, shells.
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x.
More information
Etymology
Variant Forms
Citations
In Dictionaries
The term comes into English via both New and medieval Latin
coscinomantia, and is derived from the Greek koskinomantis
a diviner using a sieve, from koskinon a sieve.
There has been much speculation about the manner in which the sieve
was to be held by the shears, with some writers throwing up their
hands at the problem (see cit. 1868), and
other suggesting that a piece of thread was used. Fortunately in
the 1567 edition of Agrippa's works there is a beautiful
picture showing exactly this. It is
clear that sieve was suspended from the shears in such a way that
the cutting edges of the shear-blades made tangents to the outer
rim of the sieve. Thus suspended the sieve is capable of some
sideways movement, or even of dropping. The holding of the shears
by only the two middle fingers would make it almost impossible to
keep the sieve still for any length of time, thus ensuring a
prognostication. The complicating factor is that in the Latin text
accompanying the picture the sieve is said to "turn around"
(circum agatur), which clearly it cannot do unless held
at two diametrically opposite points on the outer rim.
Agrippa believed that the movement of the sieve was performed by
a demon, and that the conjuration dies, mies, jeschet,
benedoefet, dowima, enitemaus actually compelled the
demon to perform the task. He further notes that the words of this
conjuration were understood neither by the speaker nor anyone else
(nec sibi ipsis, nec aliis intellectua). Here Agrippa is
asserting one of the most venerable notions of magic, i.e. that
there is a language in the spirit world and that this language
is powerfully efficacious. The co-called "Enochian language" of
the 16th century magician Edward Kelly, later revived by Alister
Crowley, is such a language. Kelly would communicate Enochian
messages to his cohort, Dr. John Dee, backwards, for to say
them directly would unleash powers beyond control. This concept
can futher be seen in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments where
a sorceress takes some lake water in hand and over it speaks
"words not to be understood" (tr. Burton I. xi. 80).
1603 Christopher Heydon A Defence of Ivdiciall
Astrolgie 356: ..sure I am that it is altogether impertient, and his
iudgement quite out of tune, in comparing Astrologie with
Aruspicie, Hydromancie, Chiromancie,
Choschinomancy, and such like.
1610 Vives in J. Healey Saint Augustine of the Citie
of God 294: Diuination generally was done by diuers means...by a
siue, called Coscinomancy.
1618 B. Holyday Technogamia, or the Marriage of
the Arts II. iii. ll. 89-146 (G2v):
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165:
..Coseinomancy, [sic] by seives...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 133: By
Coscinomancy, most religiously observed of old, amidst the Ceremonies
of the ancient Romans. Let us have a Sieve and Shiers, and thou shalt
see Devils.
1722 Athenian Oracle ii. 309:
Q. 'A
Gentlewoman having lost several Things out of her House, she
suspected one of her Maids; whereupon she try'd this Experiment to
find out the Truth; she call'd the suspected Person, and holding a Key
upon her Finger, being put in a Bible, she repeated the following
Words; which are not thought fit to be printed, lest the same ill use
might be made of them by others; naming the Person's Christian and
Sirname, whereupon the Bible immediately turn'd round, which makes
the Lady believe the suspected Person guilty. Pray your thoughts upon
it, whether any Certainty in it, or such a Practice lawful?' A.
This is near a-kin to the Trick of the Sieve and Scizzors, the
Coskniomancy of the Ancients, as old as Theocritus's Eipe kai
'Agroio talathea koskinomantis, A lesser sort of Ordeal,
tho' not so dangerous as those formerly used, both among Christians
and Heathens...
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329:
Coseinomancy [citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: Coseinomancy
[citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1844 Brand Popular Antiquities iii. 351:
[misquoting Athenian Oracle] In the Athenian Oracle, ii. 309, the
divination by sieve and shears is called "the trick of the Sieve and
Scissors, the coskiomancy of the ancients, as old as Theocritus."
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Koskinomancy, by sieves. [citing Hone
citing Gaule]
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 324
coscinomancy Is practised with a sieve, and a pair of tongs or shears,
which are supported upon the thumb nails of two persons who look one
upon the other, or the nails of the middle finger may be used.
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist.
of Magic ii. 455:
coscinomancy - As the word implies, is the art of divination by
means of a sieve. The sieve being suspended, after repeating a certain
form of words, it is taken between two fingers only, and the names of
parties suspected repeated; he at whose name the sieve turns, trembles
or shakes, is reputed guilty of the evil in question. This doubtless must
be a very ancient practice. Theocritus, in his third Idyllion, mentions a
woman who was very skillful in it. It was sometimes also practised by
suspending the sieve by a thread, or fixing it to the points of a pair of
scissors, giving it room to turn, and naming, as before, the parties
suspected; in this manner Coscinomancy is still practised in some parts
of England. From Theocritus it appears that it was not only used to find
out persons unknown, but also to discover secrets. [copied in 1903
Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1662]
1913 Halliday Greek Div. x. 219: To the same
species of divinatory rites [i.e. those involving a swinging pendulum]
belong the koskinomancy of Theokritos, familiar in England as the
consultation of the sieve and shears, and the minor rites of axinomancy
and sphondylomancy.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 110/2: [copying Rich]
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of
Sorcery (1963) viii. 300: A form of divination much used from the
earliest years of the Middle Ages down to our own day, in some French
provinces, is coscinomancy, or divination by a balanced sieve. The
early phrase was "spinning the sas" - an old word which means
sieve or strainer.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361: By
coscinomancy, most religiously observed of old amidst the ceremonies
of the ancient Romans. Let us have the sieve and shears, and thou shalt
see devils.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule; fixes spelling] Coscinomancy, by
sieves.
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658:
Coscinomancy - by sieve and shears.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 465: COSCINOMANCY..utilizing a hanging sieve.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 316: COSCINOMANCY: A forerunner of
cleidomancy, in which a sieve or strainer is clipped between the spread
blades of a pair of shears, or large scissors. The handles of the shears
are then pressed in opposite directions by two different persons, using
their respective thumbs or fingers until the sieve begins to turn. For
sure results, the operator should pronounce the words Dies, Mies,
Jeschet, Benedoefet, Dowima, Enitemaus. That will
promptly bring a demon to his aid.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 66. The earliest
form of radiesthesia seems to have been coscinomancy, or divination by
sieve.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1626 Cockeram The English Dictionarie (2nd ed.)
Cosinomancy, Diuination by a siue.
1656 Blount Glossographia s.v. divination. The
third and last manner of Divination is that which we call
Superstitious, whereof there has been among the Gentiles divers
different kinds. As namely..Coscinomancy, by a Sieve.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words:
Coscinomancy, (Greek) a divination by a sieve.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Coscinomancy,
Coski-, g. divination with a sieve.
1708 Kersey Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum:
Coscinomancy, (G.) a kind of Divination or sooth-saying by a Sieve.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th
ed.) COSCINOMANCY [Koskinomantis, of Koskinon a Sieve,
and manteia Divination, Gr.] Divination by Sieve or Riddle.
1755 Johnson Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
(1840): Coscinomancy..The art of divination by means of a sieve. A very
ancient practice, mentioned by Theocritus, and still used in some parts
of England, to find out persons unknown. Chambers.
1852 Roget Thes. § 511: ..by a balanced
sieve, Coscinomancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.:
coscinomancy..The art or practice of divination, by suspending a sieve
and taking it between two fingers, or by fixing it to the point of a pair
of shears, then repeating a formula of words, and the names of persons
suspected. If the sieve trembles, shakes, or turns, when any name is
repeated, the person is deemed guilty. This divination is mentioned by
Theocritus, and is said to be still practised in some parts of England.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.:
coscinomancy..Divination by a sieve.
1893 OED. Note.
1899 Century Dict. (1902) II:
coscinomancy.. An old mode of divination, consisting in
suspending a sieve, or fixing it to the point of a pair of shears, then
repeating a formula of words and the names of persons suspected of
some crime or other act. If the sieve moved when a name was repeated,
the person named was deemed guilty.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.:
coscinomancy..Divination by sieve and shears. A sieve was
suspended on the points of shears and the name of a suspected person
was spoken. If the sieve trembled he was deemed guilty. A similar
divination is still practised on the Guinea coast and by negroes in
southern parts of the United States.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) II
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict.: coscinomancy [minor
words list]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16:
coscinomancy, a sieve.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict.: coscinomancy
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.:
coscinomancy..fortunetelling with a sieve suspended on shears
(Voodoo).
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209: coscinomancy a form of divination involving a sieve and
shears. - coscinomantic, adj.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
1708 Kersey Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum:
Crithe, Barley, a sort of Grain.
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 330.
[citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: [citing Gaule (via
Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Krithomancy, by corn, or grain. [citing
Hone citing Gaule]
1913 Halliday Greek Div. ix. 185.
Ooskopy..libanomancy..and aleuromancy..belong to the same order of
sub-rites. [footnote] Also phyllomancy, alphitomancy, krithomancy...
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 110/2: Critomancy:
Divination by means of observing viands and cakes. The paste of cakes
which are offered in sacrifice, is closely examined, and from the flour
which is spread on them, omens are drawn.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Crithomancy, by grain or corn.
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii.
220: An exhaustive listing would become overwhelming. Let there be
mentioned hepatoscopy and critomancy, daphnomancy and
empyromancy, ichthyomancy and lampadomancy, margaritomancy and
molybdomancy.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 465: CRITOMANCY: The study of barley cakes in
hopes of drawing omens from them.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 316. CRITHOMANCY or CRITOMANCY:
Opinions vary regarding this mode of divination. All agree that it
involves corn or other grain used in sacrificial rites, but the procedure
may range from forming patterns with the kernels, or the flour ground
from them, to a study of the dough used for baking cakes, or the actual
cakes themselves.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 140.
Crithomancy..involved reading the markings on freshly baked bread or
cakes.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult Critomancy
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x.
1993 McCormack Q&A 70 CRITHOMANCY -
cake dough scattered over sacrificial victims.
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i. crithomancy..A
kind of divination by means of dough of cakes, and the meal strewed
over the victims, in ancient sacrifices.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
crithomancy..(Ant.) Divination by examining the
dough or matter of the cakes offered in sacrifices, and the meal strewed
over the victims to be killed. Craig.
1893 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) II
crithomancy.. A kind of divination practised among the
ancients by means of cakes offered in sacrifice, or of meal spread over
the victim.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
crithomancy..Divination by means of barley-meal or dough.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) II
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. crithomancy [main
words list]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
crithomancy, cake dough, barley.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.
crithomancy..fortunetelling with cake dough, scattering it over
sacrificial victims.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 erithomancy
[sic] (cake dough)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. crithomancy a form of divination involving the strewing
of grain over the bodies of sacrificed animals. - crithomantic,
adj.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
Another method, mentioned in Frazer's Golden Bough, comes
from Germany, where on one of the twelve days of Christmas,
twelve layers of peel, each representing one month, were taken
off an onion, and a pinch of salt was sprinkled into each.
The next morning the amount of moisture collected in each
foretold the amount of rain expected in the coming year.
To this may be added a gardener's rhyme recorded in 1893:
Clearly the term is derived from the ancient Greek kromyon
or krommyon an onion. This has not been a productive word
element in English, and apart from the Sydenham Society's
Lexicon which records crommyon as an "Old name for
an onion" (citing a 18th century text), I have not found any other
examples.
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of
Sorcery (1963) viii. 302: ..cromniomancy consisted of laying onions
on which certain names had been written upon the altar on Christmas
Day; when these were planted the one which sprouted first would give
the required indication.
1963 M. Bessy Pict. Hist. Magic & Supernatural
41: There was also..clidomancy (key), cromniomancy (onion)...
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 465: CROMNIOMANCY: This finds significance from
onion sprouts.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 316: CROMNIOMANCY: Onions figure in this
long-range divinatory process. Names or other significant items are
written on different onions, which are planted with due ceremony.
Careful check is kept of each, and the first onion that sprouts will
represent the person or thing chiefly concerned. A good way to predict
next year's election or the winner of a pennant race.
1973 L. Watson Supernature ix. 300: Precoginition means
"knowing in advance," ans systems of knowing cover just about every
possible source of variation. They include..cromniomancy (finding
significance in onion sprouts)... None of these need be taken
seriously...
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.:
cromnyomancy...fortunetelling with onions.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 140: ONIONS
(CROMNIOMANCY) [heading]
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x. 74:
Cromnyomancy - onions.
1993 McCormack Q&A 70: CROMNYOMANCY - onions.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
cryptomancy, by unreveled means.
1613 Purchas in OED.
1621 P. Camerarius tr. Molle Walking Library 2:
In our time Coniurers use christall, calling the diuination
chrystallomantia, or Onchyomantia, in the which, after they have
rubbed one of the nayles of their fingers, or a piece of Chrystall, they
utter I know not what words, and they call a boy that is pure and no
way corrupted, to see therein that which they require...
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165.
..Chrystallomancy, by glasses...
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329.
[citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: Chrystallomancy...
[citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Crystallomancy, by crystals. [citing Hone
citing Gaule]
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 322
crystallomancy May be understood to include every variety of
divination by means of transparent bodies - a crystal globe, a fragment
in a ring, or a precious stone. The Arabians and the Hindoos use a cup
of treacle, or a little ink poured into the palm of the hand, as mentioned
under the head of Hydromancy. The crystal has been the most
popular of all oracles, the Cardan repeatedly tried the charm without
effect. The favourite stone was a beryl. The custom was to
consecrate, or "charge" them, as the modern term is, for which purpose
set forms were used. Scott, in his `Discovery of Witchcraft,; xii., 17,
gives that for St. Helen, whose name was to be written upon the crystal
with olive oil, under a cross marked in the same manner, while the
operator was turned eastward. A child born in wedlock, and perfectly
innocent, was then to take the crystal in his hands, and the operator,
kneeling behind him, was to repeat a prayer to St. Helen, that
whatsoever he wished might become evident in that stone. In fine, the
saint herself would appear in the crystal in angelic form, and answer
any question put to her. The practice was essentially the same in the
case of other spirits, and it was even held possible to make a compact
with a condemned criminal, that he should appear in a crystal after
death, and answer questions, of course upon certain conditions.
..Crystal-seeing has now become very common; a short time ago it was
considered one of the `nine-days wonders' of the metropolis. It has
been admitted as an undoubted truth in Lancashire for many years past,
and numbers of persons, whose veracity could not be questioned,
declare that events have been exactly foreshown by this medium. Some
crystal-seers can discover nothing unless ce
Ibid. Cephaleonomancy (Gr.)
divination by an Asses head broiled on coals. Cotgr.
cephalomancy
1. cephaleonomancy. 2.
divination by study of the shape of the skull or head, esp. of a
donkey or goat.
Etymology
Derived from ancient Greek kephalos a head.Variant Forms
kephalomancy; NL cephalomantia.Citations
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 134: By
Cephalomancy, often practised amongst the High-Germans, in their
boiling of an Asse's Head upon burning Coals.
cephalonomancy cephaleonomancy
ceraunomancy
Divination by thunder and lightning.
This is not the usual term, ie ceraunoscopy, from Greek keraunoskopia.
ceromancy
Divination in which melted wax is poured
into cold water, forming bubbles which are then interpreted.
Etymology
From New Latin cæromantia, caeromantia, or
French ceromancie, medieval Latin ceromantia, from
ancient Greek keros wax.Variant Forms
Gaule and copyists: carromancy, (carramancy - Brand
typo. err.).
Following French: ceromantie, ceromanty.
Erroneous: ciromancy.Citations
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xii.:
keromanteia]
In Dictionaries
The difference between the 1611 and 1632 editions of Cotgrave for
this word illustrate the Blount most probably used Cotgrave's first
edition when preparing his dictionary. It has to be noted, however,
that this assumption is based only on the evidence of the set of
-mancy words. Also, Blount may have had both editions at
his disposal.
1632 Ibid.: Ceromantie: f. Diuination, or soothsaying,
by wax, gum, or other cleauing simples.]
Ibid. Ceromanty (ceromantia) divination or
soothsaying by wax put into water.
chalcomancy
Divination by striking brass or copper vessels.
Mackay's word for Gaule's 'cattabomancy', which see.
From ancient Greek chalkos copper.
chaomancy
A Paracelsian term for divination by the air. See
aeromancy.
Etymology
From New Latin chaomantia, from Greek (Paracelsian)
chaos the atmosphere.Variant Forms
chaomantia, (? erroneous) chaomandy.Citations
1650 French tr. Paracelsus Nine Books Of the Nature
of Things (1674) ix. 300: Chaomancy shews its Signs by the Stars
of the Air and Wind, by the discolouring, destroying of all tender and
subtil things, to which the Wind is an enemy, by beating off the
Flowers, Leaves, Boughs and Branches. If the Stars of Chaomancy are
moved, Spirits fall from the superiour Air, and Voices and Answers
were often heard: Also Trees are pulled up by the Roots, and Houses
are thrown down. There are seen Hobgoblins, Household Gods, airy
Spirits, and Woodmen, &c. also a heavenly Dew and
Manna falls upon Trees and Herbs.
chartomancy
Divination by interpreting inscriptions
written on paper or cards. A Gaulean word. The "choosing Valentines"
mentioned by Brand refers to a custom of choosing valentines by
writing names of a group of males and females on pieces of paper and
selecting them at random. This parenthetic information added by Brand
is found in Hone, proving his reliance upon Brand. Robbins, on the
other hand, actually quotes from Gaule's original text.
Derived from ancient Greek chartes a leaf of paper.In Dictionaries
OED Gaule only. Labelled Obs.
cheiromancy
An obsolescent spelling of chiromancy.
See 1618, 1650, 1868, 1970, 1973, 1988.
cheromancy
A variant of cheromomancy.
cheromomancy
Clearly a mistake in Urquhart for cleromancy,
however it is unclear how such a gross error could have
eventuated. It could cetainly not have arisen from a misreading of
a handwritten manuscript by the typesetter nor from a simple
typographical mistake.
"Par cleromantie, comme l'on trouve la febve on guasteau
la vigile de l'Epiphanie."
The practice referred to is one found various European countries
where a nomial King or Queen is chosen on the night of the Feast of
the Epiphany (ie Twelth Night) by dividing up a cake that has had a
bean baked in it. The person to get the bean is accordingly the King or
Queen, and has to shout the rest of the company for the evening. The
fact that this custom relies on a 'random' selection makes it a form of
cleromancy.
Sir Thomas Urquhart, of Cromarty, in his curious work,
entitled The Discovery of a most exquiste jewel, found
in the kennel of Worcester streets, the day after the
fight, 1651, says, p. 237, "Verily, I think they make use
of Kings - as the French on the Epiphany-day use their Roy
de la fehve, or King of the Bean; whom after they have
honoured with drinking of his health, and shouting aloud,
'Le Roy boit, Le Roy boit,' they make pay for all the
reckoning; not leaving him sometimes one peny, rather than
exorbitancie of their debosh should not be satisfied to
the full."
Citations
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 134: By
Cheromomancy, as the Bean is found in the Cake at the Epiphany
Vigil.
chilomancy
An error for clidomancy, apparently arising
from an error in transcribing handwritten text.Citations
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. Magic ii. 461:
Among the various other kinds of divination not here mentioned may
be enumerated Chilomancy performed with keys; Alphitomancy or
Aleuromancy, by flour; Keraunoscopia, by the consideration of thunder;
Eychnomancy, by lamps; Ooscopy, by eggs; Licanomancy by a basin of
water; Palpitatim, Salisatio, by the pulsation or motion of some member
etc.
chiromancy
Divination by the lines of the hands; palmistry.
Etymology
Derived probably from Middle French chiromancie, cyromancie,
from Medieval Latin chiromantia, from the ancient
Greek cheir the hand. Cf. Greek cheiromantis palm-reader.
Variant Forms
Middle English: chiromanty, chiromantie, chyromancie, ciromanci,
ciromancie, cyromancy, cyromancye.
Surviving in Early modern Eenglish: cheiromancy, chiromancie,
chyromancia, chyromancie, chyromancy.
New Latin: chiromantia, chyromantia (Agrippa).Citations
a1440 Palmistry 44. (MED) This lytill
tretis draw owt of the sciens of Ciromanci.
Ibid. For neither
Aristotle nor Plinie were counterfeits: yet these held a
better opinion of Chyromancie, then M. Chamber in his
deeper learning, and wisdom doeth.
Ibid. 85: Chiromancy hath these aphorisms to
foretell melancholy. Tasnier, lib. 5. cap. 2. (who hath
comprehended the summ of John de Ingdine, Tricassus, Corvinus, and
others, in his book) thus hath it: The Saturnine line going from the
rascetta through the hand, to Saturns mount, and there intersected by
certain little lines, argues melancholy; so if the vital and natural make
an acute angle. Aphorism 100: The Saturnine, epatick, and
natural lines, making a gross triangle in the hand, argue as much...
Ibid. 278: But that we may at length
proceed to the Practice of the Art of Chiromancy, and briefly declare
our opinion; I would have you know, that I will indeed change nothing
of what concerns the hands, but acquiesce, and be satisfied with the
observations and descriptions of the Ancients. Yet I purpose in this
practice of Chiromancy to write of those things, of which the Ancients
have made no mention, as of the Chiromancy of Herbs, Woods, Stones,
and the like. And it must first be noted, that all Herbs which are of
one kind must be of one and the same Chiromancy. But if their Lines
be unlike, and appear greater or lesser in some of them: that is, by
reason of their age. We do therefore clearly profess, that the
Chiromancy of Herbs conduceth to nothing else but to know and
understand the age of any Herb or Root.
Ibid. B1v: And
now I return to the rules of Chyromancie.
In Dictionaries
OED 1528 Skelton, 1610 B. Jonson, 1830 Scott, 1883. MED pre-dates.
1613 R. Cawdrey A Table Alphabeticall (3rd ed.)
chiromancie (g) telling of fortunes by the lines in the hand.
Ibid.
Chiromancy (chiromantia) or Palmestry, a kind of
divination practised by looking on the lines or marks of the fingers and
hands; an Art still in use, among fortune-tellers, Egyptians and Juglers.
And is (according to my L. Bacon) a meer imposture.
Chiromancy according to Paracelsus, treats not of the
lineaments of the hands only, but also of the whole body, and not onely
of men, but of all natural things. Chym.Dict. Of which you may
read Dr. Rothmans Treatise translated into English by Mr.
Wharton. 1652.
choiramancy
A method of divination using a pig's bladder. To what particular
practice this word refers is unknown. Potter in his Archaeologia
Graeca mentions:
Sometimes, when the entrails foretold nothing certain by
dissection, the priest made observations from them in a
fire: in order hereto he took the bladder, and binding the
neck of it with wool (for which reason Sophocles calls the
bladders mallodetous kysteis), put it into the fire,
to observe in what place it would break, and which way it
would dart the urine.
Though this doesn't specifically refer to pigs.
Etymology
This word comes into English through Thomas Urquhart's translation
of Rabelais. In the French text it appears as choeromantie,
and is derived from the Greek choiros a small pig, a pig.
chresmomancy
Defined by Gibson as "divination from the utterances of a
person in a frenzy".
chronomancy
Divination to determine the precise time for action. Derived from
the Greek word chronos time. An uncommon term.
chrystallomancy
crystallomancy. Not in OED.
ciromancy
1. A Middle English variant of chiromancy.
2. A variant spelling of ceromancy.
cledonismancy
Divination by first words uttered upon meeting friends, after
salutations.,p>
Derived from ancient Greek kledonisma a sign or omen.
cledonomancy
Divination by chance remarks overheard.Citations
1911 Encyc. of Religion & Ethics (1967) iv.
797/1: The consultant whispered his questions into the god's ear, then
stopped his own ears, went out, and, when he got beyond the market-place,
listened for chance words from passers-by. These were construed
into an answer. This form of divination (cledonomancy)
remained popular at all periods.
cleidomancy
Divination by means of a dangling key.Etymology
From New Latin clidomantia, from ancient Greek kleid-,
combining form of kleis a key.
Variant Forms
clidomancy, chilomancy (err.), kleidomancy.Citations
[1713 Fabricii Bibliographia Antiquaria xii. 413:
Clidomantia, qvando clavi inscribitur nomen furis.]
In Dictionaries
OED Smedley only. Although OED gives 'cleido' as hwd, it
offers no citation for this form. Further the form 'clido' does not get
separate hwd status. Also, it changes the type (of 'clidomancy') from
small caps to ordinary.
cleromancy
1. (generally) divination by casting lots.
2. (specifically) a. divination
by throwing of dice, or other marked objects, such as beans, bones or
pebbles.
b. used to denote a specific divination involving a
bean baked in a cake; see A HREF="#chero">cheromancy.
Etymology
From New Latin cleromantia, Middle French cleromancie,
medieval Latin cleromantia, from ancient Greek kleros a lot.
cf. French cl‚romancie, Sp cleromancia.Variant Forms
kleromantia.Citations
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xiii.:
kleromanteia]
Ibid. 370.
The great Napoleon was a firm believer in various modes of
superstition, particularly in Cleromancy.
In Dictionaries
OED Healey, then Gaule, then Smedley. Labelled ?Obs.
Cockeram - in main dict?
Ibid. Cleromancy (cleromantia) a
divination by lots.
clidomancy
cleidomancy
cock-omancy
A new form, invented by Raffel to translate Rabelais'
alectryomantie.
collimancy
A jocular nonce-word for a supposed method of divination
using the lines on the neck.
conchomancy
Divination by shells. Derived from Latin concha,
from ancient Greek konche muscle, cockle, shell.
coscinomancy
A method of divination employing a sieve and a pair of shears.
Divinations were taken from the movement of the sieve upon the
saying of a person's name, a word, etc.
Etymology
This word and method of divination come
to us from ancient Greece,
and a cetain passage from Theocritus (floruit 272 B.C.) is
often quoted as a reference to this type of divination (see cit.
1616, 1722,
1755, 1893), though a
number of other Greek authors have spoken of it (Philippides,
Pollux, Lucianus).
Variant Forms
The variant forms may be categorised as follows:
1. those arising from different transliterations of the
Greek letter kappa (K):
choschinomancy, choschinomancie
(prob. from misreading Greek kappa (K) as chi (ch)
coskinomancy
koskinomancy
2. Erroneous forms showing elision:
cosinomancy
coskiomancy (Brand, OED - see Note)
cosnomancy
3. Erroneous form showing transposition of letters:
coskniomancy (Athenian Oracle)
4 Transcription error in typesetting:
coseinomancy
Coscinomancy, as practised in medieval
times, is clearly outlined in Agrippa's De Occulta Philosophia,
1533, chapter xxi. This text provides the basis of
Holyday's satire, which I have reproduced
in extensio.
Citations
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xii.:
koskinomanteia]
Ibid. 357: And as for
Hydromancie, and Choschinomancie, they could vanish as superfluous,
as were evident and ridiculous even to the ignorant.
Geom. But can you by your Art, tell mee whether or no
I shall have Astronomia?
Magus. Any thing.
Geom. How!
Magus. Why, I can doe it by Coscinomancie.
Geom. What's that?
Magus. By the turning of a Sive.
Geom. But I have heard, that's only for things stolen.
Magus. Ah, 'tis more generall, and that you shall see,
stay here, Ile but step forth. Exit Magus.
Geom. Well, this is the man whom the Heavens
have ordained to make me happie; O Venus, be
favourable unto me, and Ile build thee a fayrer
Temple then ever the Ephesians directed to
Diana. Magus enter.
Magus. Come Sir, here are Sheeres and a Sive;
I must fasten the Sheeres? now doe as I bid you;
Hold up the side of the sheeres with your finger
(he puts the wrong finger) Nay, come, your
middle-finger: So, now must I say a mysticall forme
of powerfull words, and the name those that wee
suspect shall have her; and amongst them name you
also; and at whose name the Sive tunes, he shall
have her.
Geom. If it do's not turne at mine, I shall die:
'pray make it turne at mine.
Magus. Nay, then must it goe for nothing, for it
must turne of its owne accord. Be silent now.
Dies mies, Ieschet, bene doefet, Dowima, Enitemous.
Who shall have Astronomia? Shall Poeta?
(It stands still.) Who shall have Astronomia?
Shall Logicus?
Geom. Hee's not in love with her, sir; pray doe not you
put him in too.
Magus. O vile! peace; now must I begin again.
Dies mies, Ieschet, bene doefet, Dowima, Enitemous.
Who shall have Astronomia? Shall Poeta?
(It stands still.)
Who shall have Astronomia? Shall Logicus?
(It stands still.)
Who shall have Astronomia? Shall Geographus?
(It moves a little.)
Who shall have Astronomia? Shall Geometres?
(It turnes round.)
Shall he obtaine her by Coniurations? (It stands still.)
Shall hee obtaine her by Medicine? (It moves a little.)
Shall he obtaine her by fascination? (It turnes round.)
Geom. Magus, what's mine is yours, goods, life, soule,
and all: Venus, thy temple shall be a mile in length;
thy Image dain'd to make me happie; O Venus, be
favourable vnto me, andIl'e build thee a fayrer Temple than
ever the Ephesians directed to Diana.
In Dictionaries
1616 Bullokar An English Expositor
s.v. divination. The third and last manner of Diuination, is that
which wee
called superstitious, whereof there hath among the Gentiles beene
diuers different kinds, namely Auguration..Coscinomancie...
Ibid. Coscinomancie is a ridiculous kinde of diuination
made with a sieue; which at this day is vsed by some simple women,
and appeareth to bee of antiquitie, for in the third Idylle of
Theocritus there is mention made hereof.
Ibid. (reverse dictionary)
Diuination by a Sieue, Cosnomancy.
Ibid. Coscinomancy (coscinomantia) a
divining by a Sieve.
cosnomancy
A mistake in Cockeram for coscinomancy.
cristallomantia
crystallomancy.
crithomancy
Divination by meal or grain, often by strewing it over
sacrificed animals.
Etymology
From ancient Greek krithomanteia divination by barley,
from kritho-, combining form of krithe) barley.Variant Forms
critomancy,
krithomancy. New Latin crithomantia.Citations
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 166.
..Crithomancy, by grain, or corn...
In Dictionaries
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by dough of
cakes, Crithomancy...
cromniomancy
Divination by onions. Various practices are recorded.
To find out the name of a future husband the names of possible
candidates were written on onions which were left on
the altar on Christmas eve, then planted, the first onion to
sprout indicated who it was to be. This custom is quite
old and Brand quotes from a 16th century poem
on the subject. Presumedly the rationale inherent in this practice is
that the virility of the male, transmitted magically via the
written name, will cause the onion to grow quicker. Hence it is a
process of selecting the best male. Also, there is the possiblity
of the sprouting onion representing the phallus - witness
the Old English riddle the answer to
which is 'onion', albeit the ostensible answer is 'penis'. Onion's skin very thin,
Mild winter coming in;
Onion's skin thick and tough,
Coming winter cold and rough.
Etymology
The word first appears in a New Latin form cromnysmantia,
and I assume that Burton is quoting some Latin text which I
have not seen. Also, I have not been able to track down a
1660 edition of The Anatomy of Melancholy in Australia
and thus have to rely on Brand's secondary evidence, which is not
altogether reliable (see Note).
Note that the form cromnio- involves a mispelling
retained since the earliest citation!Citations
1660 Robert Burton The Anatomy of Melancholy in Brand
Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 356: Burton..speaks of
"cromnysmantia," a kind of divination with onions laid on the
altar at Christmas Eve, practised by girls, to know when they shall be
married, and how many husbands they shall have. This appears also
to have been a German custom.
cryptomancy
Divination by unrevealed means. From ancient Greek
kryptos secret, hidden.
crystallomancy
1. Divination by means of a crystal ball.
2. Divination by a transparent body such as a precious stone, or
mirror; crystal-gazing; crystal-seeing; scrying.Etymology
From ancient Greek krystallos crystal. Cf. French
cristallomancie, New Latin crystallomantia.Variant Forms
chrystallomancy, cristallomancy, cristallomantia,
crystallomancie, crystalomancy.Citations
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xii.:
krystallomanteia]