Only one actual example of this variant exists, namely:
c1500 (?a1475) Lydgate
Assembly of the Gods 869 (MED): These folowyd Konnyng
&..came..offryng her seruyce To Vertew..but..Som he refusyd..These
were her names: fyrst, Nygromansy, Geomansy, Magyk, and Glotony,
Adryomancy, Ornomancy, with Pyromancy.
Etymology Variant Forms Citations In Dictionaries
Variant Forms Middle English: aermacye, aeromance, aeromancye, aeromauncie, aerymancie. Modern: aeromancie, \aeromancy, a\"eromancy, aeromanty, eromancy, heromanty. New Latin: aeromantia, a\"eromantia.
Citations a1475 Lydgate Pilgr. 20706 (MED): My secounde scoler in the hayr..doth devyne..Hyr name ys callyd Aermacye.
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xii.: aeromanteia]
1594 Greene Frier Bacon & Frier Bongay (I. ii. ll. 13-18): Burden. Bacon we hear, that long we have suspect, That thou art read in Magicks mysterie; In Piromancie to diuine by flames; To tell by Hadromaticke, ebbes and tides; By Aeromancie, to discouer doubts, To plaine out questions, as Apollo did.
1620 J. Melton Astrologaster 69: If these apparitions are in the Ayre, then it is called Aeromancie.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165. ..Aeromancy, or divining by the ayr...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 133: Have you a mind (quoth Her Trippa) to have the truth of the matter yet more fully and amply disclosed unto you by..Aeromancy, (whereof Aristophanes in his Clouds maketh great estimation)...
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329. [citing Gaule]
1797 Encyc. Brit. (3rd ed.) VII 66: Aeromancy was the art of divining by the air. This vain science has also come to us from the Pagans; but is rejected by reason as well as Christianity, as false and absurd.
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/1: [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1853 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions 251. Aeromancy, or divining by the air. [citing Gaule]
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 333: aeromancy, meteoromancy, Includes every kind of divination by the phenomena of the air, particularly those of thunder, lightning, and fiery meteors.
1897 (Agrippa) Three Bks Occult Phil. lvii. 179: After the same manner, also, doth Aeromancy divine by airy impressions, by the blowing of the winds, by rainbows, by circles round about the moon and stars, by mists and clouds, and by imaginations in clouds and visions in the air.
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 161. ..by aeromancy...
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) iii. 1663. aeromancy - Divination by appearances in the air.
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 153. ..by aeromancy...
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 4/1: Aeromancy: The art of foretelling future events by the observation of atmospheric phenomena, as, for example, when the death of a great man is presaged by the appearance of a comet. Fran\c cois de la Tour Blanche says that aeromancy is the art of fortune-telling by means of spectres which are made to appear in the air, or the representation by the aid of demons, of future events, which are projected on the clouds as if by a magic lantern "As for thunder and lightning," he adds, "these are concerned with auguries, and the aspect of the sky and of the planets belong to the science of astrology."
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of Sorcery (1963) viii. 301: Aeromancy was divination by examining the variations and different phenomena of the air; its nature is not very clear.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 360 Have you a mind, quoth Her Trippa, to have the truth of the matter yet more fully and amply disclosed unto you by..aeromancy, whereof Aristophanes in his Clouds maketh great estimation..?
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 6: Aeromancy: Divination by observing atmospheric conditions or ripples on the surface of water.
1955 Cohen tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 357. ..by aeromancy...
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Aeromancy, or divining by the air.
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii. 219: Aeromancy is a method that observes atmospheric conditions.
1963 M. Bessy Pict. Hist. Magic & Supernatural 41: In North America, the Navaho Indians draw fortune-telling pictures on sand, magical puzzle-pictures. Everything soon becomes an omen to be read. In this way were born: aeromancy (divination by the air)...
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Aeromancy - by atmospheric phenomena; weather predicting.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden Knowledge 463: AEROMANCY: The divination of the future from the Air and sky. This goes beyond the range of weather prognostications and concentrates upon cloud shapes, comets, spectral formations, and other phenomena not normally visible in the Heavens. Even in modern times such visions have caused much speculation and consternation among human viewers.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy (1989) 311. aeromancy: Divination from atmospheric conditions ranging from halos around the sun or moon to the unexpected appearance of heavenly bodies such as the comet of 44 B.C., which presaged the death of Julius Caesar, and that of a.d. 1066, which preceded the Norman Conquest of England. Mirages have also been responsible for omens of this type, as were the famous "Bowmen of Mons," huge spectral figures seen by British soldiers during World War I, which encouraged them to hold off the attacks of superior German forces, a phenomenon still not fully explained by natural means.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 148. All the elements had an important part to play in the divination arts of the ancient world. But many of the details of aeromancy (divination by atmospheric conditions) and hydromancy (divination by water) have become obscure, leaving us with a few ways of using these arts in foretelling our future today. Winds, storms, clouds, rainbows - almost anything occurring in the sky - could be interpreted in aeromancy. The Etruscans and Babylonians were especially concerned with thunder and lightning; the Hindus interpreted the castles in the air formed by the shapes of clouds.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 4/1: Aeromancy. Divination from the air and sky, using cloud shapes, comets, and other aerial formations.
1985 G. Luck Arcana Mundi 253. Aeromancy consisted in casting sand or dirt into the wind and studying the shape of the resulting dust cloud; or in throwing seeds into the wind, allowing them to settle on the ground, and interpretting their pattern (though this is also considered a form of aleuromancy).
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1993 McCormack Q&A 69 aeromancy (chaomancy) - appearances in the air; weather forecasting. In Dictionaries
1616 Bullokar An English Expositor s.v. divination. Besides these there were also other diuinations, as namely Aeromancie, that which is gathered by apparitions in the aire.
1626 Cockeram The English Dictionarie (2nd ed.) (reverse dictionary) Diuination of things by the ayre, Aeromancy.
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng. Tongues Aeromantie. Diuination by the ayre.]
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..Aeromancy, by the Air.
Ibid. Aeromancy (aeromantia) a kind of divination by
the air.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words: Aeromancy, (Greek) a foretelling of things, by some certain signs in the air.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: A\"eromancy, g. divining by air.
1708 Kersey Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum: Aeromancy, a Fore-telling of Things by certain Signs in the Air.
1727 Bailey The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. i. ‘romancy ['ànpomanteia of 'ànp, the Air, and manteia, Prophesy, Gr.] a foretelling future Events from certain Spectres or other Appearances in the Air, and sometimes thus; they folded their Heads in a Napkin, and having placed a Bowl full of Water in the open Air, they proposed their Question in a small whispering Voice, at which Time if the Water boiled or fermented, they thought what they had spoken of was approved and confirmed.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th ed.) aeromancy [of 'Anp and manteia, Divination, Gr.] a divining or foretelling of Things by certain Signs in the Air. aeromantick, belonging to Divination by the Air.
1755 Johnson Dict. of the Eng. Lang. (1840) Aeromancy..The art of divining by the air. Dict.
1852 Roget Thes. sect. 511. ..by appearances in the air, Aeromancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i. aeromancy..Divination by means of the air and winds.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang. aeromancy..A mode of divination from certain appearances in the air. Cotgrave.
1884 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) i. a‰romancy..by means of the air and winds or atmospheric phenomena: now sometimes used to denote the practice of forecasting changes in the weather.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i. aeromancy..The art of divination or augury by atmospheric phenomena; hence, a forecasting of the weather or of atmospheric changes.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) i aeromancy, aeromantie or aeromance..Divination by means of the air and its movement. A‰romanty is the spelling by Cotgrave; a‰romancy that by Kersey and in modern books of reference.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. aeromancy [main words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict. aeromancy..Divination by means of aerial phenomona; forecasting the weather. [marked obsolete]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 15. aeromancy. Divination - foretelling events, predicting the future - by appearances in the air.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. aeromancy
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.) aeromancy..divination relating to the air and sky.
1984 Macquarie Thes. sect. 268.6 aeromancy (divination by air)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.) 208. aeromancy 1. the art or science of divination by means of the air or winds. 2. Humorous. weather forecasting. Cf. austromancy.
1987 Random House Dict.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
NOTES: OED 1393. Cockeram - in main dict?
NL Cornelius Agrippa De Occult Philosophia lvii. "Aeromantia
prognostica pr\aeebet per impressionnes aereas, per ventorum flatus, per
irides, per halones, per nebulas et nubes, perque imaginationes in
nubibes et visiones in aere."
aichmomancy
A method of divination utilising sharp points, as pins, etc.
This word, derived from the ancient Greek aichme point of a spear, is one of the numerous terms appearing in Shipley only. To which specific method of divination it is meant to refer to is not clear.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 15: aichmomancy, by sharp points.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 136: Common
omens and superstitions 2. 1 HORSES (HIPPOMANCY)... 2 CATS
(AILUROMANCY) A cat washing its face or ears - Rain. A cat
washing one ear three times - Expect visitors from the direction in
which the cat is looking. A cat following you - Money...[etc.]
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng. Tongues Alebromantie. Diuination by barley meale mixed with wheat.]
1656 Blount Glossographia s.v. divination.
Alebromancy, by Barly meal mixed with Wheat.
Ibid.
[alphabetised according to this spelling] Alebromancy
(Greek) divination by barley meal mixed with wheat.
1704 E. Cocker English Dict. (OED)
1884 OED.
This word is of the same vintage as alectryomancy, and arises from a slightly different Greek word, namely: alektor a rooster (as opposed to alektryon). Variant Forms: alectromanchy (rare), alectromancy (showing elision, and electromancy. Also the New Latin form alectoromantia is commonly seen.
1758 Ann. Reg. 275/2 (OED): The mysteries of chyromancy, alectromanchy and catoptromanchy. 1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 330: Alectromancy [citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: Alectromancy [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions 252: Alectromancy, by cocks. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1855 Edward Smedley in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 325: alectromancy, Or Alectoromantia, an ancient method of divination with a cock. In practising it, a circle must be made in a good close place, and this must be divided equally into as many parts as there are letters in the alphabet. Then wheat-corn must be placed on every letter, beginning with A, during which the depositor must repeat this verse, Ecce enim veritatum, &c. This must be done when the sun or moon is in Aries or Leo. A young cock, all white, should then be taken, his claws cut off, and these he should be forced to swallow with a little scroll of parchment made of lambskin upon which has been previously written [heb chars]. The diviner holding the cock should repeat, O Deus Creator omnium, qui firmamentum pulchritudine stellarum formƒsti, constituens eas in signa et tempora, infunde virtutem tuam operibus nostris, ut per opus in eis consequamur effectum. Next, on placing the cock within the circle, he must repeat these two verses of the Psalms: Domine, dilexi decorum dom–s tu‘ et locum habitationis tu‘. Domine Deus virtutum, converte nos et ostende faciem tuam, et salvi erimus. These are exactly the midmost of the seventy-two verses mentioned under the head of Onimancy, and it is to be noted on the authority of an ancient Rabbi, that there is nothing in these seventy-two which is not of some cabalistic secret. The cock being within the circle, it must be observed from what letters he pecks the grains, and upon these others must be placed, because some names and words contain the same letters twice or thrice. These letters should be written down and put together, and they will infallibly reveal the name of the person concerning whom inquiry has been made; it is said, though the story is doubted, that the magician Jamblicus used this art to discover the person who should succeed Valens C‘sar in the empire, but the bird picking up but four grains, those which lay on the letters th, e, o, d, left it uncertain whether Theodosius, Theodotus, Theodorus, or Theodectes, were the person designed. Valens, however, learning what had been done, put to death several individuals whose names unhappily began with those letters, and the magician, to avoid the effects of his resentment, took a draught of poison. (`Zonaras iii., Valens.') A kind of Alectromantia was also practised upon the crowing of the cock, and the periods at which it was heard.
1880 J. Grant Mysteries of all Nations xl. 368: There was an art among the Greeks known as Alectoromantia, by which future events were made known by means of a cock's movements. A circle was made on the ground, and divided into twenty- four equal parts, in each of which spaces was written one of the letters of the alphabet, and upon each of these letters was laid a grain of wheat. This done, the fowl was turned loose, and watched to ascertain the order in which the grains were picked up. The letters corresponding to those grains were formed into words, and supplied an answer to important questions.
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. of Magic ii. 453: alectoromantia - is a kind of divination performed by means of a cock, which was used among the Greeks...
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 13/1: [copying Smedley]
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of Sorcery (1963) viii. 302: Alectoromancy, or alectryomancy, is divination by a cock; it is a famous and very ancient method.
1963 M. Bessy Pict. Hist. Magic & Supernatural 41: In North America, the Navaho Indians draw fortune-telling pictures on sand, magical puzzle-pictures. Everything soon becomes an omen to be read. In this way were born: ..alectromancy (from a cock), alectryomancy and alphitomancy (divination from grains of wheat) and also alveromancy (divination from barley).
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Alectromancy - by a cock picking up grain.
1973 K. Ellis Prediction and Prophecy iv. 61: In electromancy, a grain of wheat was placed by each letter and a cock set in the centre of the circle. A note was made of the letters from which the cock ate the grain.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult Alectromancy.
1993 McCormack Q&A 70: alectromancy - a
cock picking up grain.
It is one of the few -mancys that Johnson bothered to record. The word "Dict." after his definition means that Johnson took this word (in its alternate form) from the dictionary he used as a base, namely Bailey.
1731 Bailey Dict. (OED): Alectoromancy, an ancient divination, in which they made use of a cock in discovering secret and unknown transactions of future events.
1755 Johnson Dict. of the Eng. Lang. (1840): Alectryomancy, or Alectoromancy. n.s. [alektryon, and manteia.] Divination by a cock. Dict.
1852 Roget Thes. sect. 511: ..by a cock picking up grains, Alectryomancy (or Alectoromancy)...
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.: alectoromancy..Alectryomancy.
1884 OED. Note.
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I: alectoromancy.. Same as alectryomancy. [marked obsolete]
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.: alectoromancy..Same as alectryomancy.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict.: alectoromancy [minor words list]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 15: alectromancy, by a cock's picking up grains.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. [as variant]
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.: aeromancy..fortunetelling by air or wind; weather forecasting.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.) 208: alectoromancy, alectryomancy - a form of divination by recording the letters revealed as a cock eats kernels of corn that cover them.
1987 Random House Dict.: [as variant]
2. (loosely) any divination involving a rooster. (specifically) a. a once common mode of divination in which, firstly, a circle of letters (originally twenty-four in number, since j, v are the same as i, u) is laid out with some sort of grain placed on each letter. Next a rooster is let pick at the grains, thus selecting letters to create a divinatory message or sign. The chosen letters could be either read in order of selection, or rearranged to make an anagram. b.the observing of chickens feeding in order to gain omens. c. divination by the crowing of a rooster.
[1656 Blount]
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 134: ..or yet by Alectryomancy.
1684 Phil. Trans. XIV. 706 (OED): The author singles Alectryomancy for the subject of this book.
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 163: ..by alectryomancy...
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154: ..by alectryomancy...
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 13/2: In the fourth song of the Caquet Bonbec, of Jonquieres, a poet of the fourteenth century, the details of an operation in alectryomancy are exactly and curiously set forth.
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of Sorcery (1963) viii. 302: Alectoromancy, or alectryomancy, is divination by a cock; it is a famous and very ancient method.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361: Or yet by alectryomancy.
1955 Cohen tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 359: Or perhaps by alectryomancy.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule; but altering spelling] Alectryomancy, by cocks or poultry.
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii. 220: Alectryomancy employs a cock that pecks grain placed on letters of the alphabet.
1963 M. Bessy Pict. Hist. Magic & Supernatural 41: In North America, the Navaho Indians draw fortune-telling pictures on sand, magical puzzle-pictures. Everything soon becomes an omen to be read. In this way were born: ..alectryomancy and alphitomancy (divination from grains of wheat) and also alveromancy (divination from barley). Note.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden Knowledge 463: ALECTRYOMANCY: A bird, a black hen or white gamecock, is allowed to pick grains of corn from a circle of letters, thus forming words with Prophetic significance. Another method is to recite the letters of the alphabet, making note of those at which the cock crows.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy (1989) i. 3: In later centuries, alectryomancy was revived along with other ancient divinatory arts, and mention is made of it by various writers of the Middle Ages.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 142: Alectryomancy Predicting from the eating patterns of sacred chickens.
1984 Bill Hartson & Jill Dawson The Ultimate Irrelevant Encyclopedia: Divination by cock is called alectryomancy. Grains of corn are arranged in a circle, each grain covering one letter of the alphabet. A cock is placed at the centre of the circle and spells out its prediction according to which grains it pecks at. The succession of the Roman Emperor Theodosius was thus predicted by a couple of smart alectryomancers.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 8/1: Alectryomancy. Divination through the actions of birds, often a black hen or a gamecock. In Africa, where this is practised, the diviner sprinkles grain on the ground and allows the birds to peck at it. When the bird has finished, the seer interprets the patterns that remain on the ground.
1985 G. Luck Arcana Mundi 251: Alectryomancy
was another method by which the Romans explored the will of gods. It
consisted in consulting the sacred chickens that were carried along on
military campaigns. If, before a battle, the chickens ate the food so
greedily that some of it fell from their beaks, this was considered an
excellent omen.
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng. Tongues: Alectryomantie: f. Diuination by a Cocke; or by the Cocke stone.]
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..Alectryomancy, by a Cock.
Ibid.: Alectryomancy (Greek) divination by a Cock or
by the Cock-stone. Cotgr.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words: Alectryomancy, (Greek) a certain kinde of divination among the ancients, which was done by a Cock.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Alectryomancy, g. Cock-divination.
1727 Bailey The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict.: alectryomancy [Alectryomantia, L. of 'Alektryomantiea of 'Alektor a Cock, and manteia, Gr. Divination] a very mysterious Divination, in which they made use of a Cock in discovering secret and unknown Transactions or future Events. The Method was this; they first wrote on the Dust the 24 Letters of the Alphabet, and laid a grain of Wheat or Barley upon every one of them; then having prepared a Cock magically, they let him loose among them, and those Letters out of which he picked the Corns being put together, were thought to declare whatever they had a Mind to know.
1740 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Dict.: alectryomancy (s.) an ancient sort of divination...
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th ed.): alectryomancy [of 'Alektor and manteia, Prophecy, Gr.] a Divination by Cocks.
1755 Johnson Dict. of the Eng. Lang. (1840) Alectryomancy, or Alectoromancy. n.s...Divination by a cock. Dict.
1852 Roget Thes. sect. 511: ..by a cock picking up grains, Alectryomancy (or Alectoromancy)...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.: alectryomancy..An ancient practice of foretelling events by means of a cock. The twenty-four letters were laid on the ground, and a grain of corn on each; a cock was then permitted to pick up the grains, and the letters under the grain selected, being formed into words, were supposed to foretel the event desired.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.: alectryomancy.. Divination by a cock; attempting to foretell by a cock. Bailey.
1884 OED.
1899 Century Dict. (1902) i.: alectryomancy..An ancient practice of foretelling events by means of a cock. The letters of the alphabet were traced on the ground in squares within a circle, and a grain of corn was placed on each; a cock was then permitted to pick up the grains, and the letters under them, being formed into words in the order of their selection by the cock, were supposed to foretell the event. Sometimes written alectoromancy.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.: alectryomancy..Divination by the order in which grains covering letters of the alphabet traced on the ground were eaten by a cock.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) I:
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. alectryomancy [main words list]
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict.: alectryomancy.
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.) alectryomancy..a form of divination whereby a bird, usually a black hen or a white gamecock, is allowed to pick grains of corn from a circle of letters, thus forming words.
1984 Macquarie Thes. sect. 268.6: alectryomancy (cocks picking up grain)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.) 208: alectoromancy, alectryomancy - a form of divination by recording the letters revealed as a cock eats kernels of corn that cover them.
1987 Random House Dict.
The assertation that the use of fortune cookies is a modern-day
survival is as prevalent as it is wrong. In much of the
literature of folk-lore, superstition, witch-craft, the occult, etc.,
there is made a habit of finding some analogous practice from ancient
times and thence stating that the modern-day practice is a
survival. The term survival implies a continuation of
the practice throughout the intervening years, presumedly unrecorded
and underground. It is as though the idea that the two similar practices
may have had separate geneses, one ancient, the other modern, is out
of the question, though this is often more likely to be the case. In this
instance the proposition that the ancient Greek aleuromancy continued
beyond the end of the Grecian period, was somehow transported to China,
then lost to the Chinese, except to those who emmigrated to North
America and took up the restaurant trade, is ludicrous. Similarly
impossible is the alternate proposition that the whole of
humanity, (or at least the Greeks as well as the Chinese) in
ancient times practised some common form of aleuromancy, of which
the making of fortune cookies is the only vestige remaining.
This practice of guilelessly identifying supposed survivals is quite old.
That it is still common is no wonder since many influential books
and authors have indulged in it quite freely. It can be seen
throughout Brand's Popular Antiquities, a hugely
popular book that went in to numerous editions, and it occurs
in much of the literature on witchcraft due to the theories and works
of Margaret Murray. Sir James Fraser's all-important Golden Bough
constantly cites connections between ancient beliefs and more recent
practices, but, at least in the examples I am familiar with, is cautious
in doing so and always cites numerous instances to back up his assertions.
Other examples of this "survival" notion in this document are to be seen
at: alomancy, ceromancy,
chartomancy, ovomancy
and xylomancy.
Caelius Calcagninus, Compendium amatoriae magiae (ed. Froben Bale, 1544) "Aleuromantia, per tritici ac farinae excussiones."
[1656 Blount]
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 133: By Alentomancy, mixing the Flower of Wheat with Oatmeal.
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 329: aleuromancy , or alphitomancy, Was a method of divination, or rather ordeal by flour or bread. Probably, it differed very little from the corsned or cursed bread of the Anglo-Saxons [see Note]. "Another species of purgation," says Blackstone, "probably sprung from a presumptuous abuse of revelation in the dark ages of superstition, was the corsned, or morsel of execration - being a piece of cheese or bread, of about an ounce in weight, which was consecrated with a form of exorcism, desiring the Almighty that it might cause convulsions and paleness, and to find no passage if the man was really guilty; but might turn to health and nourishment, if he was innocent" (`Commentaries,' vol. iv., p.345). It is stated by several authorities that Earl Godwin was choked by the corsned. For the form of the exorcism, another writer has referred to Spelman's `Glossarium,' p.439, and he adds, "barley bread was used in preference to any other, apparently for no reason but that, being more difficult of mastication, it had more chance of choking."
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, [sic] by lamps; Ooscopy, by eggs; Licanomancy by a basin of water; Palpitatim, Salisatio, by the pulsation or motion of some member etc.
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 161: By alentomancy, mixing the flour of wheat with oatmeal.
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 153: By alentomancy...
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1662: aleuromancy - Was the means of picking out a guilty person. He was given a piece of barley bread and cheese an ounce of which he must swallow at once. If he choked he was guilty, otherwise innocent.
1913 Halliday Greek Div. ix. 185: ..aleuromancy..was of sufficient importance to create for Apollo the cult title aleuromantis...
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 13/2: Aleuromancy: A species of divination practised with flour. Sentences were written on slips of paper, each of which were rolled up in a little ball of flour. These were thoroughly mixed up nine times, and divided amongst the curious, who were waiting to learn their fate. Apollo, who was supposed to preside over this form of divination, was surnamed Aleuromantis. So late as the nineteenth century the custom lingered in remoter districts.
c1928 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua and Pantagruel iii. xxv. 486: By Alentomancy...
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of Sorcery (1963) viii. 302: Aleuromancy and alphitomancy were almost analogous processes; cakes were made of wheat or barley flour which could not be swallowed by anyone guilty of a given misdeed.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361: By aleuromancy, mixing the flour of wheat with oatmeal.
1955 Cohen tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 358: ..by aleuromancy, mixing wheat with flour...
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii. 220: Messages, enclosed in balls of dough, become prophetic of the future. This method, known as aleuromancy, is still in use among the Chinese.
1963 M. Bessy Pict. Hist. Magic & Supernatural 41: In North America, the Navaho Indians draw fortune-telling pictures on sand, magical puzzle-pictures. Everything soon becomes an omen to be read. In this way were born: ..alectromancy (from a cock), alectryomancy and alphitomancy (divination from grains of wheat) and also alveromancy (divination from barley).
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden Knowledge 463: ALEUROMANCY: This requires slips with answers to questions which are rolled in balls of dough and baked. These are mixed up and one is chosen at random and presumably will be fulfilled. Our modern 'fortune cookies' are a survival of this Ancient ritual.
1973 Collier's Encyc. x. 211/1: Aleuromancy...flour
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy (1989) 311: ALEUROMANCY: Divination by predictions written on slips of paper and baked in cakes that are chosen at random by interested persons, like Chinese fortune cookies. This has also survived in the custom of baking a coin or ring in a large cake, which is then divided among guests, one of whom is lucky and finds the gift.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 104: Aleuromancy This is said to have been in common practice until the ninth century. All the possible answers to a specific question were written on slips of paper, and these were then rolled up and baked inside small balls of dough. The querant chose a ball at random, and broke it open to find the answer. The tradition survives today in the "fortune cookies" available in some Chinese restaurants. Customers choose one of the small hollow pastries, and break it open to find the slip of paper that tells their fortune.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 8/1: Aleuromancy. Divination practised with flour. Among the ancient Greeks, the procedure was as follows: sentences were composed, written on small pieces of paper, and rolled up in balls of flour. The balls were then mixed up nine times and distributed to those who were eager for information on their destiny. Apollo presided over this form of divination. Aleuromancy is not widely practised today, but modern-day fortune cookies are a form of this type of fortune-telling.
1985 G. Luck Arcana Mundi 253:
Aeromancy consisted in casting sand or dirt into the wind and
studying the shape of the resulting dust cloud; or in throwing seeds into
the wind, allowing them to settle on the ground, and interpretting their
pattern (though this is also considered a form of aleuromancy).
Ibid. ..if flour is thrown on the flames, this is a form of
aleuromancy...
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1993 McCormack Q&A 69. ALEUROMANCY - with flour or meal.
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..Alebromancy, [sic] by Barly
meal mixed with Wheat.
Ibid. [alphabetised according to
this spelling] Alebromancy (Greek) divination by barley
meal mixed with wheat.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Alevromancy,
g. Divination by Barly and Wheat.
Ibid. Aleuromancy,
g. Cake-Divination.
1708 Kersey Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum: Aleuromancy, a kind of Sooth-saying, by Bread, or Cake-Paste.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th ed.) ALEUROMANCY [of 'Aleuron Meal and manteia, Gr. Prophecy] a Divination by Cake or Paste.
1852 Roget Thes. sect. 511: ..by meal, Aleuromancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.: aleuromancy..A kind of divination by meal, used by the ancients.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.: aleuromancy.. Divination by means of flour. Craig.
1884 OED.
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I: aleuromancy.. A method of divination by meal of flour, practised by the ancients.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.: aleuromancy..Divination by the agency of meal or flour.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) I
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict.: aleuromancy [minor words list]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 15: aleuromancy, by dough.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict.: aleuromancy
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.: aleuromancy..fortunetelling with flour or meal.
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.): aleuromancy..a form of divination in which fortune cookies are used.
1984 Macquarie Thes. sect. 268.6: aleuromancy (fortune cookies)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.) 208: aleuromancy an old form of divination using meal or flour. - aleuromantic, adj.
1987 Random House Dict.
The word itself, appears to be only recorded only in dictionaries and
books on the occult. The OED records it as a variant of halomancy, but
when that word is consulted only one citation appears, Websters (1864),
where the form is indeed alomancy. Since it is not labelled
rare-0 then one must assume that the OED had citations of the
h form, though ones later than 1864. OED misses the fact that
in 1852 the h form appears in Roget's Thesaurus, even
though this source is cited in other OED -mancy entries.
What is remarkable is the fact that, in a time of prescriptive
dictionaries, the lexicogrpahers of the day did not mark the form
alomancy as incorrect or erroneous.
Presumably Roget and Webster had original sources for the words, or perhaps they both had the same source and Roget etymologically normalised the form. As yet I have not been able to discover a 19th century primary source.
1864 Websters (OED): alomancy.
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.: alomancy..Divination by salt.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.: alomancy.. Divination by salt. Ogilvie.
1884 OED. [cross-referenced to halomancy]
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I: alomancy.. Same as halomancy.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict.: alomancy [minor words list]
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.: alomancy..Same as halomancy.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) I: alomancy..Imagined divination by salt.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 16/1: Alomancy: Divination by means of salt, of which process little is known. It is this science which justifies people in saying that misfortune is about to fall on the household when the salt cellar is overturned.
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii. 220: Salt is used in alomancy...
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden Knowledge 463: ALOMANCY: The divination by salt, which accounts for some of our modern superstitions.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy (1989) 311: ALOMANCY or HALOMANCY: Use of salt in various divinations, probably dating from its ancient use as an offering to pagan gods, because of its scarcity and necessity. From that developed other rites in which salt played a significant part; hence any careless waste of such a precious substance was sure to rouse the wrath of the presiding deities[.] This has survived in the modern superstition that spilling salt brings bad luck.
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.): alomancy..divination be means of salt.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 9/1: Alomancy. Divination by sprinkling salt. The diviner interprets future events by analyzing the patterns made by this action. Alomancy has probably given rise to the superstition that spilling salt is unlucky. Misfortune is averted by casting a small amount of the salt over the left shoulder.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208: alomancy halomancy.
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xii.: alphitomanteia]
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 166. ..Alphitomancy, by meal, flower, or branne...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 133: By Alphitomancy, cried up by Theocritus in his Pharmeketria.
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. Alphitomancy, by meal, flour, or bran. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
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.
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 161. By alphitomancy...
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 153. By alphitomancy...
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1662. [copied from Howitt 1893]
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 16/2:
Alphitomancy: A method of divination carried out with the help of
barley, which has been practised since the earliest days.
Ibid.
There was said to be near Lavinium a sacred wood, where
Alphitomancy was practised in order to test the purity of
women. The priests kept a serpent, or, as some say, a dragon, in a
cavern in the wood. On certain days of the year the young women were
sent thither, blind-folded, and carrying a cake made of barley flour and
honey. The devil, we are told, led them by the right road. Those who
were innocent had their cakes eaten by the serpent, while the cakes of
the others were refused.
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of Sorcery (1963) viii. 302: Aleuromancy and alphitomancy were almost analogous processes; cakes were made of wheat or barley flour which could not be swallowed by anyone guilty of a given misdeed.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By alphitomancy, cried up by Theocritus in his Pharmaceutria.
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 9: Alphitomancy: An ancient form of divination of the guilt or innocence of an accused individual by making him swallow a piece of barley loaf, which was supposed to produce indigestion in the guilty.
1955 Cohen tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 358. By alphitomancy, described by Theocritus in his Pharmaceutria...
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Alphitomancy, by meal, flour, or bran.
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii. 220: ..wheat or barley cakes, used in a kind of trial by ordeal in the Middle Ages, constituted alphitomancy.
1963 M. Bessy Pict. Hist. Magic & Supernatural 41: In North America, the Navaho Indians draw fortune-telling pictures on sand, magical puzzle-pictures. Everything soon becomes an omen to be read. In this way were born: ..alectromancy (from a cock), alectryomancy and alphitomancy (divination from grains of wheat) and also alveromancy (divination from barley).
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden Knowledge 463: ALPHITOMANCY: A form which utilizes special cakes which are digestible by persons with a clear conscience, but are distasteful to all others.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy (1989) 311. ALPHITOMANCY: Determining an accused person's innocence by having him swallow a piece of a specially baked barley loaf, with choking or other ill-effects marking him as guilty. In the year 1053, Earl Godwin of Wessex, England, collapsed while taking this test to support a false oath, and died a few days later. This case has frequently been cited as a strong argument in favor of alphitomancy as a divinatory process.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 140. Alphitomancy enabled the seers to detect lies or dishonesty with special cakes made of wheat or barley flour - these were supposed to be swallowed easily by those of a clear conscience, but to choke liars or wrong-doers. A similar ordeal was known in medieval English law, but the special cakes were replaced by a consecrated "trial slice" of bread or cheese.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 9/1: Alphitomancy. Divination by means of a leaf of barley, used to identify a culprit. Pieces of the leaf would be given to a group of accused persons. The innocent would suffer no ill effects, but the culprit would have an attack of indigestion and thereby identify himself.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1993 McCormack Q&A 70 ALPHITOMANCY - with barley meal. In Dictionaries
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng. Tongues Alphitomantie. Diuination by barley meale.]
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..Alphitomancy, by Barly meal.
Ibid. Alphitomancy (Gr.) divination by barley meal.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words: Alphitomancy, (Greek) a divination by Barley meal.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Alphitomancy, g. Divination by barley-meal.
1727 Bailey The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. ALPHITOMANCY of 'A^íiçà Barley Meal, and manteia, Gr. Divination,] a sort of Divination by Barley-Meal.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th ed.) ALPHITOMANCY, Divination by Barley-meal. Gr.
1852 Roget Thes. sect. 511. ..by meal, Aleuromancy, Alphitomancy...
1855 See aleuromancy.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang. alphitomancy.. Divination by means of barley-meal. Ogilvie.
1884 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I alphitomancy.. Divination by means of barley-meal.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i. alphitomancy..Divination with barley-meal.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) I
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. alphitomancy [minor words list]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 15. alphitomancy, by barley meal.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. alphitomancy..fortunetelling with barley meal.
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.) alphitomancy..a means of divination using special cakes that are said to have a pleasant taste only for persons with a clear conscience.
1984 Macquarie Thes. sect. 268.6 alphitomancy (barley meal)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.) 208. alphitomancy a form of divination involving the examination of barley.
1987 Random House Dict.
NOTES: OED Gaule 1652. Then Urquhart, then Bailey and mod dicts.
OED adds 'divining' into cit. unbracketed. Naughty. cit 1855 equates
this with aleuromancy.
In New Latin - C‘lius Calcagninus, Compendium amatori‘
magi‘ (ed. Froben Bale, 1544) "Alphitomantia, quam ceu digito
Theocritus signavit in Pharmaceutria." - evidently Rabelias was
taking from Calcagninus.
amathomancy: divination by dust. [Gk 'àæàéoc
(amathos) sand]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
amathomancy, dust.
NOTES: Not in OED.
ambulomancy: divination involving walking. [L
ambulare to walk]
1816 in Monthly Magazine xlii. 22. (OED) His
Ambulomancy, and many other foolish observances.
1884 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I
ambulomancy.. Divination by walking. [Rare.]
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
ambulomancy..[Rare.] Divination by walking.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. ambulomancy [minor
words list; labelled rare]
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208. ambulomancy a form of divination involving walking,
usually in circles. Cf. gyromancy.
NOTES: in OED as above. labelled 'rare'.
amniomancy: divination by the examination of the caul
on a baby's head.
[1713 Fabricii Bibliographia Antiquaria xii. 410:
Amniomantia, divination per amnium s[ive] membranam tertiam
embryonis.]
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. amniomancy [minor
words list]
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 23/1:
Amniomancy: Divination by means of the caul, or membrane which
sometimes envelopes the head of a child at birth. From an inspection of
this caul, the wise women predict the sort of future the baby will have.
If it be red, happy days are in store for the child, or if lead-coloured, he
will have misfortunes.
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii.
220: The caul on a child's head, at birth, was examined in
amniomancy.
1963 M. Bessy Pict. Hist. Magic & Supernatural
41: The amniotic membrane, which occasionally envelops the head of
the newborn, led to amniomancy.
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Amniomancy -
by a caul.
1973 K. Ellis Prediction and Prophecy
iii. 42. In amniomancy, the ancient Greeks inspected the caul at
birth. If it was pinkish, the baby would be lucky; if bluish, unlucky.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 312. AMNIOMANCY: A term applied to
traditional predictions made regarding a child that is born with a
membranous caul over its head.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208. amniomancy a form of divination by examining the
embryonic sac or amniotic fluid.
[NL amniomantia, from Gk 'àæviov (amnion) caul]
NOTES: Not in OED.
anagramalectryomancy: (nonce)
alectryomancy in which the letters chosen are rearranged to form a
word. [anagram + alectryomancy]
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) i. 6. This could very well be titled
"anagramalectryomancy," for that is exactly what it is, but the shorter
term of "anagrammatic divination" is preferable, as it is more
understandable. Either way, it adds up the same.
NOTES: Not in OED.
anthomancy: divination by flowers. [Gk 'àvéoc
(anthos) flower]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
anthomancy, flowers (She loves me, she loves me not!)
NOTES: Not in OED.
anthracomancy: divination by burning coal. Only
recorded in dictionaries.
1885 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I
anthracomancy.. Divination by means of burning coals.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
anthracomancy..Divination by observation by burning coals.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) supp.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. anthracomancy [minor
words list]
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.
anthracomancy..fortunetelling with burning coal.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208. anthracomancy the art of divination through the study of
burning coals. - anthracomantic. adj.
1993 McCormack Q&A 70.
ANTHRACOMANCY - burning coal.
[Gk 'àvépàk- (anthrak-) stem of 'àvépàî (anthrax)
coal]
NOTES: OED defines and says merely (In mod. Dicts.) labels rare-0.
anthromancy: Apparently an error for anthropomancy,
however the term anthroscopy is sometimes seen? Blount
copies Cotgrave.
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng.
Tongues Anthromantie. Diuination by the raysing of dead men.]
1656 Blount Glossographia
Anthromancy (Gr.) divination by the raising of dead men.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Antromancy,
g. Divination by consulting the dead. [alphabetised between
Amian and Anzigues, but far away from other words
beginning ant-]
NOTES: See 'anthroscopy' - d. by the features. (Q&A)
anthropomancy: divination by the inspection
of the entrails of sacrificed people.
Etymology
Variant Forms
Citations
In Dictionaries
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.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165.
..Antinopomancy, [sic] by the entrails of men, women
and children...
1656 See prev.
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 134: By
Anthropomancy, practised by the Roman Emporer Heliagabolus; it is
somewhat irksom, but thou wil endure it well enough, seeing thou art
destinated to be a Cuckold.
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329.
Antinopomancy [citing Gaule].
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: [citing Holiday, via
Brand]
1853 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Anthropomancy, by the entrails of human
beings. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1891 John G. Bourke Scatalogic Rites of all
Nations xl. 272: The Romans were addicted to this mode of
divination [sc. urinomancy], which Schurig incorrectly styles
"Anthropomancy."
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii.
xxv. 163. By anthopomancy...
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154. By anthropomancy...
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 27/1:
Anthropomancy: Divination by the entrails of men or women. This
horrible usage is very ancient. Herodotus said the Menelaus, detained in
Egypt by contrary winds, sacrificed to his barbarous curiosity, two
children of the country, and sought to discover his destiny by means of
anthropomancy. Heliogabalus practised this means of
divination. Julian the Apostate, in his magical operations, during his
nocturnal sacrifices, cause, it is said, a large number of children to be
killed, so that he might consult their entrails.
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 12:
Anthropomancy: The ancient art of divination by examining the
intestines of a dead person - specifically, of a human sacrifice.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By
anthropomancy, practised by the Roman Emperor Heliogabalus. It is
somewhat irksome, but thou wilt endure well enough, seeing thou art
destined to be a cuckold.
1955 Cohen tr. Rabelais Gargantua &
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 358. By anthropomancy, which was employed
by Heliogabalus, Emperor of Rome.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Antinopomancy, by the entrails of
women and children.
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii.
220: The Roman Emperor Julian, the Apostate, is said to have
consulted the intestines of sacrificed children: a method known as
anthropomancy.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 463: ANTHROPOMANCY: An Ancient and long-
outlawed form of human sacrifice.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) xiii. 312. ANTHROPOMANCY: A form of
divination used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks, involving human
sacrifice and the dissection of bodies. It continued intermittently
through the period of the Roman Empire and was probably revived by
notorious practitioners of black arts during the Middle Ages.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 12/2:
Anthroposophy. Barbaric form of divination using human entrails -
usually of virgins or young children. According to legend, the magician
Julian the Apostate sacrificed a number of children during his ritual
workings, in order to evaluate their entrails. Anthropomancy was also
practiced in ancient Egypt.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
In Dictionaries
[? 1656 Blount - see anthromancy]
1740 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Dict.:
anthropomancy (s.) a kind of divination performed by inspecting the
entrails of a dead man.
1852 Roget Thes. sect. 511. ..by the entrails of a
human sacrifice, Anthropomancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.
anthropomancy..Divination by inspecting the entrails of a human
being.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
anthropomancy.. Divination by the inspection of a human
body. Dunglison.
1885 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I
anthropomancy.. Divination by inspecting the entrails of a
human being.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
anthropomancy..Divination by inspection of human entrails.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) I - cites Webs.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. anthropomancy [minor
words list]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
anthropomancy, human entrails.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. anthropomancy
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.)
anthropomancy..divination using human entrails.
1984 Macquarie Thes. sect. 268.6 anthropomancy
(human entrails)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208. anthropomancy a form of divination using the entrails of
dead men. - anthropomantist, n. -
anthropomantic, adj.
1993 McCormack Q&A 70.
ANTHROPOMANCY - the entrails of a human sacrifice.
[NL anthropomantia; from Gk 'àvépoãoc (anthropos)
human being; cf. F anthropomancie]
NOTES: OED cites Holyday 1618, as the earliest citation, yet gives no
actual reference or quotation. Clearly this information was taken,
without saying so, from Brand. Thus relying on Brand and not checking
the state source for verification. Also Gaule 1652 (p.376), Urq, 1731
Bailey, and mod dicts. OED ignores Gaule's erroneous form. Brand, for
his part, does not actually identify the typographical error in Gaule's
list, and thus lists 'anthropomancie' as a word "not in the above ample
list". Hone copies Brand without correction, however Mackay corrects
the error.
antinopomancy: a ghost word, beginning as a mistake
in Gaule for anthropomancy. Evidently Gaule's typesetter
misread the manuscript, reading 'hr' as 'in' thus creating the curious
form antinopomancy. This mistake was then copied
literatum by Brand, Hone, Robbins, etc., as though the word
was a separate divinatory method.
[1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165.
..Antinopomancy, [sic] by the entrails of men, women
and children...]
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329
[citing Gaule] ..Antinopomancy, by the entrails of men, women
and children...
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/1: [citing Gaule (via
Brand)]
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Antinopomancy, by the entrails of
women and children.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) xiii. 312. ANTINOPOMANCY: Similar to
anthropomancy but somewhat more gruesome, as children were among
the principal victims.
NOTES: There are not many copies of Gaule extant, and it has not, to
my knowledge, ever been reprinted, thus in all likelihood, most of the
later recorders of Gaule's words have taken them from Brand. Mind
you Brand was not totally accurate in his own transcription. Evidently
Brand did not understand that there was a typographical error in Gaule.
The Gibson's, who very likely did not get their evidence from an
original copy of Gaule, continue the error to the point of defining it
separately. OED did not bother to record this error, but perhaps it
would have been wise to in order to nip such ghost words in the bud.
apantomancy: divination by chance meetings with
things, especially animals, as a black cat.
Etymology
Variant Forms
Citations
In Dictionaries
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 13:
Apantomancy: Divination by means of any object that happens to meet
the eye.
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii.
220: Even objects that lie about haphazardly were fit for mantic
purposes. The prcatice was called apantomancy.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 463: APANTOMANCY: A method which forecasts
from chance meetings with animals, birds, and other creatures. It may
be said to include modern omens of the 'black cat' variety. The classic
was the founding of Mexico City on the spot where Ancient Aztec
soothsayers saw an eagle flying from a cactus and carrying a live
snake. This omen represents the Mexican coat-of-arms of today.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 312. APANTOMANCY: Divination from omens
depending on observations of chance objects, meeting certain types of
animals, or other unusual occurrences. In ancient times such events
were frequently interpreted by oracles, and their importance persisted
through the Middle Ages, even up to modern times. From them have
stemmed countless superstitions that many people still believe may
bring them good or bad luck, though the interpretations may vary in
different localities.
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.)
apantomancy..forecasting from chance meetings with animals,
as a black cat.
1984 Macquarie Thes. sect. 268.6 apantomancy
(meetings with animals)
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
[from Gk 'àãàvçoæài (apantomai) to meet]
NOTES: Not in OED.
arachnomancy: divination by spiders. [Gk 'àpàxvn
(arachne) spider]
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 136. Common
omens and superstitions 2. 1 HORSES (HIPPOMANCY)... 2 CATS
(AILUROMANCY)... 3 SPIDERS (ARACHNOMANCY) Seeing a
spider in the morning - Grief. Seeing a spider at noon - Anxiety. Seeing
a spider in the evening - Financial loss. Seeing a spider spinning a web
- Some sources say this indicates that there is a plot against you, others
that you will receive a gift, probably new clothes. ...[etc.]
Etymology
Variant Forms
Citations
In Dictionaries
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xiii.:
arythmanteia]
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.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165.
..Arithmancy, by numbers...
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. Arithmancy, by numbers. [citing Hone citing
Gaule]
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 36/1: Arithmancy:
(Sometimes called wrongly Arithmomancy). Divination by
means of numbers. The Greeks examined the number and value of the
letters in the names of two combatants, and predicted that he whose
name contained most letters, or letters of the greatest value, would be
the victor.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Arithmancy, by numbers.
1969 Vincent Foster Hopper Medieval Number
Symbolism 125. Divination and the Black Arts took numerous
forms on which it is not necessary to dwell further, unless it be to
remark that all of them utilized the magic properties of number in their
rituals and that one of them, arithmancy, relied entirely on the
mysteries of the decimal system.
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Arithmancy -
by numbers.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 464: ARITHMANCY or ARITHMOMANCY: The
Ancient form of Numerology that applies chiefly to divination through
numbers and letter values...
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 312. ARITHMANCY or ARITHMOMANCY:
Fortunetelling by numbers.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 117. Numerology,
which was also known as numeromancy or arithomancy, used to be
practiced as a form of general divination; today its practitioners are
mainly concerned with character analysis and potential.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 16/1:
Arithmancy. Greek and Chaldean method of divination by numbers.
1993 McCormack Q&A 70. ARITHOMANCY -
numbers.
In Dictionaries
1656 Blount Glossographia Arithmancy
(Gr.) Divination made by number, which hath consideration and
contemplation of Angelic vertues; of names, signacles, Natures, and
Conditions, both of divels and other Creatures.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words:
Arithmancy, (Greek) a divination by numbers.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Arithmancy, g.
Divination by numbers.
1740 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Dict.:
arithmancy (s.) a sort of prophesying, or divination by certain
numbers.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th
ed.) ARITHMANCY [of 'àpiéæoc Number, and manteia
Divination, Gr.] Divination by Numbers.
1755 Johnson Dict. of the Eng. Lang. (1840)
Arithmancy..A foretelling future events ny numbers. Dict.
1852 Roget Thes. sect. 511. ..by numbers,
Arithmancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.
arithmancy..Divination or the foretelling of future events by the use
or observation of numbers.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
arithmancy.. Divination by numbers; foretelling by numbers.
Bailey.
1885 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I
arithmancy.. Same as arithmomancy.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
arithmancy..Divination by numbers. arithmomancy.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) I
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. arithmancy [minor
words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict.
arithmancy..[more correctly arithmomancy..] Divination by means of
numbers.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.
arithmancy..fortunetelling by numbers.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208. arithmancy numerology.
1987 Random House Dict.
[NL arithmantia (Agrippa), from Gk 'àpiéæoc
(arithmos) a number. According to the OED this is "contracted
for arithmomancy, but earlier". However this earlier form is
most probably directly from the NL, itself a blend of
arithmetica and -mantia. Notice that the form also
occurs both Sp aritmancia, and Pg arithmancia. This
pattern of formation (ie without -o- before -mancy) is
followed by the two other words referring to divination by number,
namely, logarithmancy and mathemancy. The variant
form arithomancy is a later formation (1983) with the
connective -o- added in to conform the usual pattern of other -
mancys] Variant Forms: arithmancie, arithomancy, ???? arythmancy.
NOTES: OED 1577 Holinshed Descr. Brit., 1878. Quot. 1983 has
'arithomancy', adding the -o- connective to match other forms. The
Imp. dict suppl. gives the entry: ar'rithmancy or arith'mancy. - a
note on the pron.
arithmomancy: arithmancy. (arithmomantia,
arithmomanty)
Etymology
Variant Forms
Citations
In Dictionaries
1660 in OED.
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 328
arithmomancy, To which head belongs the magical operation of
numbers and magical squares, is derived from the doctrines of the
Pythagoreans and Platonists. In estimating these doctrines, it must be
remembered that all movement, proportion, time, and, in a word, all
idea of quantity and harmony, may be represented by
numbers: hence, whatever may be attributed to the latter, may also be
expressed by numbers, as the signs of occult virtues and laws. It is
known to philosophers that the movements of nature are rhythmical;
physicians have observed this in the periodicity of diseases; and the
appointment of the seventh day as the Sabbath, has added a religious
obligation to this law of nature. The three, the ten, and
the twelve are also members of well known import, and
one is the most divine of all, as expressing the unity of God,
and the comprehension of all things in perfect harmony. The use of
numbers in divination has assumed many curious forms. It may suffice
to mention here the Gematria, or first division of the Cabbala,
which teaches how to cast up the letters of particular words as
numerals, and to form conclusions from the proportion between the
sum of one text and the sum of another. This method converts the
Bible into a book written solely by numbers, and some curious results
are obtained, probably as near the truth as the rabbinical astrology (see
note to Geomancy). Some curious properties of perfect, amicable, and
other numbers have been elucidated by the late Platonist, Thomas
Taylor. The most valuable remains of antiquity connected with this
subject are contained in the `Chaldean Oracles' of Zoroaster. For the
various arrangements of magic squares we may refer to a curious work
entitled `Qanvon-E-Islam; or, the Customs of the Moosulmans of
India,' by Jaffur Shareef. The Pythagorean doctrine is noticed by
Ennemoser, who quotes some interesting passages from Plato on this
subject.
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...
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. of Magic ii. 453:
arithmomancy - Is a kind of divination or method of foretelling
future events by means of numbers. The Gematria, which makes the
first species of Jewish Cabala, is a kind of Arithmomancy.
[text copied in] 1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc.
Occult Sci. (1971) III 1662.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 36/1: Arithmancy:
(Sometimes called wrongly Arithmomancy).
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 464: ARITHMANCY or ARITHMOMANCY: The
Ancient form of Numerology that applies chiefly to divination through
numbers and letter values...
1973 Collier's Encyc. x. 211/1: Arithmomancy
(Numerology)...numbers
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 312.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
In Dictionaries
1885 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I
arithmomancy.. Divination by numbers. Also
arithmancy.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
arithmancy..Divination by numbers. arithmomancy\ddag
.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) supp.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. arithmomancy [minor
words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict.
arithmancy..[more correctly arithmomancy..] Divination by means of
numbers.
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.)
arithmomancy..an ancient form of numerology.
1984 Macquarie Thes. sect. 268.6 arithmomancy
(numbers)
1987 Random House Dict.
[from NL arithmomantia, from Gk 'àpiéæoc
(arithmos) a number]
NOTES: OED 1621 Burton Anat. Mel., 1660.
This method of divination was formerly very common and occurs in many
disparate cultures. Its popularity is in some way indicated by the
amount of terms designating the practice, such as omoplatoscopy,
scapulimancy, and
spatulamancy. In Scotland it was known as
'reading the speal-bone', hence the term
spealomancy.
This word is derived from the Latin word armus a shoulder
blade. And, although appearing in some early dictionaries, and being
recorded in OED, has for some reason not met with approval among later
lexicographers. Perhaps this is because it is from a Latin, rather
than Greek, root.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Armomancy,
divining by the shoulders of beasts.
1727 Bailey The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict.:
ARMOMANCY [of armus, L. a Shoulder, and manteia, Gr.
Divination] Divination by Shoulders of Beasts.
1885 OED [giving Blount's definition, but
offering no citations]
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 36/1: Armomancy:
A method of divination which is effected by the inspection of
shoulders. The ancients judged by this means whether a victim was
suitable for sacrifice to the gods.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16:
armomancy, shoulders of beasts.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 312: ARMOMANCY: A long-forgotten mode of
divining suitable candidates for sacrificial rites by inspecting them
physically. Any modern survival of such practices is probably
computerized rather than divinatory.
Note
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 16/2:
Armomancy. Divination by means of the shoulders. Subjects were
inspected to see whether they were suitable candidates to be sacrificed
to the gods.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208: armomancy a form of divination involving the shoulders
of animals. Cf. spatulamancy.
An uncommon term, not recorded by OED nor other standard dictionaries.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 37/1:
Aspidomancy: A little known form of divination practised in the Indies,
as we are told by some travellers. Delancre says that the diviner or
sorcerer traces a circle, takes up his position therein seated on a
buckler, and mutters certain conjurations. He becomes entranced and
falls into an ecstasy, from which he only emerges to tell things that his
client wishes to know, and which the devils has revealed to him.
1961 H.E. Wedeck Treasury of Witchcraft xii.
220: Sitting on a shield, within the magic circle, and pronouncing
conjurations, the karcist falls into a trance during which he makes
mantic revelations. This is aspidomancy.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 312: ASPIDOMANCY: A primitive form of
divination in which an entranced sorcerer, seated in a magic circle,
becomes inspired by the devil and upon awakening recounts the
predictions revealed to him from that source.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208: aspidomancy a form of divination involving examination
of a shield.
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xiii.:
astragalomanteia]
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. 166.
..Astragalomancy, by dice...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 133: By
Astragalomancy, whereof I have the Plots and Models all at hand ready
for the Purpose.
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. Astragalomancy, by dice. [citing Hone
citing Gaule]
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii.
xxv. 161. By astragalomancy...
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 153. By astragalomancy...
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of
Sorcery (1963) viii. 303: Astragalomancy, or astragyromancy, was
performed, among the ancients, with knucklebones marked with letters
of the alphabet. Later on dice were substituted for the bones, the figures
from one to twelve upon them representing the twelve principal
divisions of human language. This latter method was even turned into a
complicated art pertaining at once to polite diversion and divination,
which was expounded at length in a book by Maistre Laurens l'Esprit,
Le Passe-temps de la fortune des dez, ing‚nieusement
compil‚ pour response … vingt questions.
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 18:
Astragalomancy: Foretelling the future by means of dice marked with
letters of the alphabet.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By
astragalomancy, whereof I have made plots and models all at hand
ready for the purpose.
1955 Cohen tr. Rabelais Gargantua &
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 358. By astragalomancy. I have the pictures
ready.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Astragalomancy, by dice.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 464: ASTRAGYROMANCY: This was divination with
dice bearing letters and numbers. It has developed into the modern
Fortune Telling by Dice.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 312. ASTRAGALOMANCY or
ASTRAGYROMANCY: Divination with dice, ranging from crude
bones with primitive markings to cubes bearing spots, letters, or
cabalistic symbols, all interpreted by the bone caster.
1979 B. Martin Dict. Occult astragalomancy - a
form of divination using the astragalus or ankle bone of certain
animals. The bone has two rounded ends and four more or less flat
faces upon which appropriate symbols may be marked... The use of
rune sticks in divination stems from the astragalus, the sticks being
either a substitute for or a development of the astragali. The term is
sometimes used loosely, and incorrectly, to refer to any form of
divination involving the use of bones.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 108.
Astragalomancy Today this is a form of divination using two
dice, but originally a pair of astragals (probably the left and right ankle-
bones of a sheep) would have been used.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 18/1:
Astragalomancy. Divination using knuckle bones, stones, or small
pieces of wood marked with letters or symbols.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1993 McCormack Q&A 70
ASTRAGALOMANCY - dice.
In Dictionaries
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng.
Tongues Astragalomantie. Diuination by huckle bones.]
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
[supplement] astragalomancy..Divination by means of small
bones or dice.
1885 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I
astragalomancy.. Divination by means of huckle-bones or
dice.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
astragalomancy..Divination with dice or the astragalus-bones
or quadrupeds.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) I
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. astragalomancy [minor
words list]
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. astragalomancy
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict.
astragalomancy..fortunetelling using dice.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208. astragalomancy a form of divination involving dice or
knuckle-bones, in which letters are marked on the faces of the dice and
the future is foretold from the words formed as the dice fall. Also
called cleromancy.
[NL astragalomantia, (F astragalomantie), from Gk
'àpçpàyà^oc (astragalos) one of the vertebrae, or (usu. in
the plural 'àpçpàyà^oi (astragaloi)) a type of dice, made
from knuckle-bones of sheep. Cf Gk 'àpçpàyà^oæàvçic
(astragalomantis) a diviner with 'àpçpàyà^oi] Variant
Forms: astragyromancy (first recorded 1931 - apparently arising from a
typographical error).
NOTES: OED Gaule & Urquhart only. defines as both dice &
hucklebones. Pre-dated, if Brand can be trusted.
In New Latin - C‘lius Calcagninus, Compendium amatori‘
magi‘ (ed. Froben Bale, 1544) "Astragalomantia, ex astragalorum
jactu in picturarum libellum, qua imprimis nostrates f§min‘ uti solent."
This method of divination, involves taking note of the heavens both
when a person is born, and at the present, and forming judgements about
that person's character, luck, future, etc., based on the influence
exerted by the Sun, the Moon, and the eight planets as they travel
through the twelve zodiacal constellations.
Originally, the planets Neptune, Uranus and Pluto formed no part of
astrology, since they are not visible to the naked eye and were not
discovered until after the 17th century. In the pre-Copernican,
geocentric view of the cosmos there were only seven planets or
wandering stars, namely: the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars,
Jupiter and Saturn. Their ancient importance is demonstrated by
the fact the the seven days of the week
are named after these seven planets.
Astrology is recorded throughout the world and clearly dates back to
pre-historical times. European astrology is partly derived from Arabic
and Egyptian astrology and also owes much to the astrological
traditions of the ancient Babylonians, Akkadians and Sumerians.
In the 17th century this method of divination was accepted by many
as basic fact, but at the same time a fierce debate raged about its
verity, with many authors denouncing it as irreligious, especially
as it seemed to negate the doctrine of free will.
The term astrology dates back to the 16th century. In earlir
times a distinction was made between natural astrology - the
prediction of the weather and other natural phenomena, and judicial
astrology - prediction of the future of individuals. The term
horary astrology refers specifically to divination based on
the stars at birth, the major method still in practice. This was
previously known as astronomy (now obsolete in this sense), and
is also sometimes referred to by casting horoscopes, casting
nativities, genethliacs and horoscopy. See also
sideromancy and roadomancy.
Etymology and Variant Forms
Citations
In Dictionaries
The term essentially died out after the 17th century. However, it
reappears in the 19th century in a few sources. It occurs in
Mackay where it is used as a substitute for
Gaule's etymologically obscure roadomancy. Its appearance in
Sir Richard Burton's translation of the
Arabian Nights' Entertainments is not
surprising as the use of archaic terms in this translation is a
stylistic feature (for a further apposite example see
egromancy). It is also to be met with in
James Murray's definition of the term astrology in the
OED.
The assertion in Gaynor and
Gibson that the term astromancy refers
to an ancient form of astrology, and not the modern day practice
is based on conjecture rather than evidence. Certainly there were
many astrological methods and practices that are now lost, but it
is clear from the 16th century citations that the term
astromancy is equivalent to the modern astrology.
1650 N. Homes Daemonologie and Theologie ix.
110: Or thirdly, if we entertaine those other tearmes and title that
Alfred, and Doctor Willet, Etc. give to Astrologie,
calling it..Astromancy, and Genethliaca, that is, the
calculation of Nativities, a Magick; all these are disgraceful termes; and
so unuseful to insinuate a lawfull Astrology.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165. What
difference betwixt Astromancy, Magomancy, or
Magastromancy (as touching a sorcerous both superstition, and
operation) and all these after-named?
1663 John Heydon Theomagia, or The Temple of Wisdome:
1664 John Heydon Psonthonphanchia 34: The
Astromancy and Geomancy of the Hebrews have not as yet lost any of
their lustre, so long as they were practised by those of the Nation only.
1665 John Heydon El Havarevna 2: In his
Phylosophy you must know he makes a harmony of all things, the 7
Angels guide the 7 Planets, the 7 Planets move continually in the Signs,
the 7 Rulers run in the 12 Ideas over the face of the whole Earth, and
with the Elements project 16 Figures, these have their influence upon
the 7 Mettals, which you must prepare for the diseases of mankind, as
for example, if Mars cause the disease or Barzabel, Venus and
Kedemel will cure it, and you must make your Medicine of Copper, as
you are taught in the Holy, Guide, if Saturn and
Zazel, then Jupiter and Hisamael in Tin prepared will
lend you their influence to cure the party, as you may find by the
Figures of Astromancy and Geomancy, as you are
taught at large in the Harmony of the World, The Temple of
Wisdome, and the Holy Guide.
1852 Mackay Memoirs of
Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. Astromancy, by stars. [supposedly citing
Hone citing Gaule (who both rather have 'roadomancy' at this point)]
1885 Burton Bk. of Thousand
Nights i. 305:
'Allah hath bounteously bestowed on thee a Barber who is an
astrologer, one learned in alchemy and white magic; syntax, grammar,
and lexicology; the arts of logic, rhetoric and elocution; mathematics,
arithmetic and algebra; astronomy, astromancy and geometry; theology,
the Traditions of the Apostle and the Commentaries on the Koran.'
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 19:
Astromancy: A system of divination by means of the stars. (Not
synonymous with astrology.)
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 312: ASTROMANCY: The ancient forerunner of
astrology, as developed in Babylon and later carried to Greece,
ascribing heavenly thrones to gods as represented by the sun, moon,
and planets. From their movements, wise men divined the purposes of
such deities, taking into account the phases of the moon, eclipses, the
proximity of planets to the brighter fixed stars, and other phenomena,
including the positions of constellations other than those forming the
signs of the zodiac. As examples, the new moon rising in a cloudy sky
presaged victory in a coming battle, while, if it failed to rise at an
anticipated time, it became an omen of defeat. With the advance of
astrology as a science, the casting of horoscopes and other exact
calculations supplanted the old traditions and astromancy dwindled in
importance. Its systems are largely obsolete, but its lore has survived as
modern superstitions, such as expecting bad luck if you look at the
moon over your left shoulder, or making a quick wish when you see a
shooting star.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 20/1:
Astromancy. An ancient method of divination by the stars.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult Astronomancy
1885 OED.
Note
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I:
astromancy.. Divination by means of stars; astrology.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
astromancy..Divination by the stars; astrology.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) supp.: astromancy..
divination by means of the stars.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. astromancy: [main
words list]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 17:
Astrology has many terms, including astromancy,
[divination by] the position of the stars...
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
208: astromancy divination by observation of the stars. Also
called sideromancy.
1987 Random House Dict.
Note
Basically a dictionary word, occuring mainly, and originally
in dictionaries and thence other language reference books, laterly
being found also in lists in books on the occult and magic. No
record exists of it ever being in use.
It is interesting to note that in the earliest occurences of this
term the practice is ridiculed. This is common to many other
terms ending in -mancy.
The OED gives Blount as the first citation, but Blount cites the
eariler "Chym.Dict.", which has a New Latin form, and perhaps
was not included for this reason.
1656 Blount Glossographia:
Austromancy (austromantia) is a kind of invented
superstition, concerning the observation of winds; as when the stars of
the winds break forth into great vehemency, contrary to their custom,
whence men, that are more idle than rational, pronounce a presage of
something to come. Chym.Dict.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words:
Austromancy, (Greek) a kinde of divination by observing the
South-winde.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Austromancy,
g. divination by the South-wind.
1852 Roget Thes. sect. 511. ..by winds,
Austromancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.
austromancy..Soothsaying, or prediction of future events, from the
observations of the winds.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
austromancy.. Divination by the winds. Dunglison.
1885 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I:
austromancy.. Divination from observation of the winds.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.:
austromancy..Divination by observation of the wind.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) I
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. austromancy [minor
words list]
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 21:
Austromancy: Foretelling the future by using the winds as sources of
divinatory data.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
austromancy, winds.
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Austromancy -
by the winds.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 464: AUSTROMANCY: The divination by a study of
the winds.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 313. AUSTROMANCY: Divining the future by a
study of winds. Where weather forecasts are concerned, this is a solid
science in its own right. As to foretelling the fate of individuals or
nations, it is less certain but still worthy of consideration. Human
affairs are often related to weather conditions.
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.)
austromancy..divination by a study of the winds.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 148.
Austromancy Divination by the study of winds.
1984 Macquarie Thes. sect. 268.6: austromancy
(winds)
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism & Occult 21/2:
Austromancy. Divination by means od interpreting the wind.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. austromancy divination by observing the winds,
especially the south wind. Cf. aeromancy.
1993 McCormack Q&A 70. AUSTROMANCY -
winds.
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xii.:
axinomanteia]
1601 in OED.
1610 Vives in J. Healey Saint Augustine of the Citie
of God 294. Diuination generally was done by diuers means...by
hatchets, Axinomancy.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165.
..Axinomancy, by Sawes...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais
Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv. 134: By
Axionomancy, we want only a Hatchet and a Jeat-stone to be laid
together upon a quick Fire of hot Embers. O how bravely Homer was
versed in the Practice hereof towards Penelope's Suitors!
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329.
[citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: Axinomancy, by
saws. [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular
Delusions 252. axinomancy, by saws. [citing Hone citing
Gaule]
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 328
axinomancy, Was performed by balancing an axe on an upright stake,
and the names of suspected persons being pronounced, it was supposed
to point out the guilty by its motion. Another method was by laying an
agate stone upon a red hot hatchet.
1868 Chambers's Encyc. I 585. axinomancy..a
mode of divination much practised by the ancient Greeks, particularly
with the view of discovering perpetrators of great crimes. An axe was
poised upon a stake, and was supposed to move so as to indicate the
guilty person; or the names of suspected persons being pronounced, the
motion of the axe at a particular name was accepted as a sign of guilt.
Another method of A. was by watching a red-hot axe.
1880 J. Grant Mysteries of all Nations xl. 368.
One species of divination was performed by laying an agate stone on a
red-hot hatchet. This is known as Axinomancy.
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. of Magic ii. 453:
axinomancy
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii.
xxv. 162. By axionomancy; we want only a hatchet and a jet-stone to
be laid together upon a quick fire of hot embers.
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154. By axionomancy...
1913 Halliday Greek Div. x. 219. To the same
species of divinatory rites [i.e. those involving a swinging pendulum]
belong..the minor rites of axinomancy and sphondylomancy.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 57/1: Axinomancy:
Divination by means of a hatchet or a woodcutter's axe. It is by this
form of divination that the diviners predicted the ruin of Jerusalem, as
is seen from Psalm LXXIII.
c1928 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua and
Pantagruel iii. xxv. 487. By Axionomancy...
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of
Sorcery (1963) viii. 302: Then there was axinomancy, or divination
by the hatchet, "which," says de l'Ancre, "they struck into round stake,
and by the quivering or movement that it made they judged of thefts or
other great crimes."
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By
axionomancy; [sic] we want only a hatchet and a jet-stone to be
laid together upon a quick fire of hot embers. O how bravely Homer
was versed in the practice hereof towards Penelope's suitors!
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and
Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Axinomancy, by saws.
1963 M. Bessy Pict. Hist. Magic & Supernatural
41: There was also axinomancy (axe and hatchet)...
1970 Man, Myth & Magic v. 658: Axinomancy -
by a balanced axe, or by a stone on a red-hot axe.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient & Forbidden
Knowledge 464: AXINOMANCY: This requires an ax or hatchet
which answers questions by its quivers, or points out the direction
taken by robbers or other miscreants.
1973 Collier's Encyc. x. 211/1: Axiomancy...axe,
floating or turning
1973 K. Ellis Prediction and Prophecy
iii. 41. Axinomancy. For finding hidden treasure. A round stone
was balanced on the edge of a red-hot axe. If it stayed in place, there
was no treasure. If it rolled off, the enquirer should dig where it came
to rest. If it landed on a different spot each time, he should try
somewhere else.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &
Prophecy (1989) 313. AXINOMANCY: Primarily used as a mode
of finding a guilty person, this consisted of heating an ax head, setting
it upright, placing a marble on it, and turning it slowly until the marble
rolled in someone's direction. Treasure can presumably be uncovered
by the same procedure. Another way is to suspend a hand ax or hatchet
from a string attached to its handle, start it twirling and see to whom it
points when it stops. A third and perhaps the best method is to drive
the ax blade into the top of a post and let it waver there, while a group
dances around the post. When the ax finally falls, its handle is sup-
posed to point to the culprit if he is still around. If he has gone, it will
point to the direction that he took.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1990 Raffel tr. Rabelais Gargantua & Pantagruel
xxv. 308: And then there's ax-onomancy, which requires only an ax
and a chunk of onyx: we can burn some of the gemstone or else tune
into the subtle, lingering vibrations of the ax.
1993 McCormack Q&A 70 AXINOMANCY - a
balanced axe.
In dictionaries
No dictionary records Gaule's definition "..by Sawes", despite the fact
of its existence in Gaule and it's copying by Brand, etc.
1626 Cockeram The English Dictionarie (2nd ed.)
Axinomancy, Diuination done by hatchets.
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French & Eng.
Tongues Axionomantie: f. Diuination by a hatchet, and Ieat burnt.
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..Axiomancy, [sic] by
Hatchets.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words:
Axinomancy, (Greek) a divination by hatchets.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Axinomancy,
g. a divination by hatchets.
1727 Bailey The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. i
AXINOMANCY [axinomantia, L. of 'Aîivomanteia, Gr. of
'Aîivn, a Hatchet, and manteia, Gr.] Divination by an Ax or
Hatchet, which they fixed so exactly upon a round Stake, that neither
End might outpoize or weigh down the other; then they pray'd and
repeated the Name of those they suspected; and the Person, at whose
Name the Hatchet made any the least Motion, was pronounced guilty.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th
ed.) AXINOMANCY [of 'Aîivn and manteia Gr.] Divination by
Hatchets. Gr.
1852 Roget Thes. sect. 511. ..by a balanced
hatchet, Axinomancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. i.
axinomancy..Among the ancients, a species of divination, by
means of an axe or a hatchet, performed by laying an agate-stone on a
red-hot hatchet, or by fixing a hatchet on a round stake, so as to be
poised; then the names of those suspected were repeated, and he at
whose name the hatchet moved, was pronounced guilty.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang.
axinomancy.. A kind of divination in which axes were used.
Crabb.
1885 OED
1899 Century Dict. (1902) I
axinomancy.. An ancient kind of divination for the detection
of crime by means of an ax or axes.
1908 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dict. i.
axinomancy..Divination by means of an ax.
1909 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) I
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. axinomancy [minor
words list]
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
axinomancy, a balanced hatchet.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. axinomancy
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies & -Isms (3rd ed.)
209. axinomancy a form of divination involving the use of an
axhead. - axinomantic, adj.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
NOTES: OED 1601, 1693 Urq, 1870. I cannot account for Gaule's
definition - presumably it is an error. Liddle & Scott mention no such
sense. Cotgrave cites Rabelais. Urquhart follows Cotgrave's error.
In New Latin - C‘lius Calcagninus, Compendium amatori‘
magi‘ (ed. Froben Bale, 1544) "Axinomantia belle ab Homero
indicata, dum per secures experitur procos."
belomancy: divination by arrows; sortes
sagittari‘. Often considered to be a subtype of rhabdomancy.
Etymology
Variant Forms
Citations
In Dictionaries
1646 (1st ed.) in OED. 1650 Browne
Pseudodoxia Epidemica (2nd ed.) 232. As for the Divination or
decision from the staff, it is an Auguriall relique... Of this kinde of
Rhabdomancy was that practised by Nabuchadonosor in the Chaldean
miscellany, delivered by Ezekiel. A like way of Belomancy or
Divination by Arrowes hath been in request with Scythians, Alanes,
Germans, with the Africans and Turks of Algiers.
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 329
belomancy, The method of divination by arrows, dates as far back as
the age of the Chaldeans. It existed among the Greeks, and still later
among the Arabians. The manner in which the latter practised it is
described on another page (Divination), and they continue its use
though forbidden by the Koran. Another method deserves mention. This
was to throw a certain number of arrows into the air, and the direction
in which the arrow inclined as it fell pointed out the course to be taken
by the inquirer. Divination by arrows is the same in principle as
Rhabdomancy.
[1863 William Smith Dict. of the Bible i. 444/3.
Belomants. alluded to in Ez. xxi. 21, where Nebuchadnezzar, at the
parting of two ways, uses divination to decide...]
1868 Chambers's Encyc. II 20. belomancy..a
mode of divination by arrows, practised among the Arabs and other
nations of the east. A number of arrows being shot off with sentences
written on labels attached to them, an indication of futurity is sought
from inscription on the first arrow found. This is only one of many
ways of divining by arrows.
1880 J. Grant Mysteries of all Nations xl. 368.
Belomancy was a kind of divination by arrows, practised among
various nations in the East, but chiefly among the Arabians.
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. of Magic ii. 453:
belomancy - Is a method of divination by means of arrows, practised
in the East, but chiefly among the Arabians. Belomancy has been
performed in different manners; one was to mark a parcel of arrows,
and to put eleven of more of them into a bag; these were afterwards
drawn out, and according as they were marked, or otherwise, they
judged of future events. Another way was to have three arrows, upon
one of which was written, "God forbids it me;" upon another, "God
orders it me;" and on the third nothing at all. These were put into a
quiver, out of which one..was drawn at random; if it happened to be
that with the second inscription, the thing they consulted about was to
be done; if it chanced to be that with the first inscription, the thing was
left alone; and if it proved to be that without inscription, they drew
over again. Belomancy is an ancient practice, and is probably that
which Ezekiel mentions, chap. xxi. v. 21; at least St. Jerome
understands it so, and observes that the practice was frequent among
the Assyrians and Babylonians. Something like it is also mentioned in
Hosea (chap. vi.), only that staves are mentioned there instead of
arrows, which is rather Rhabdomancy than Belomancy. Grotius, as well
as Jerome, confound the two together, and show that they prevailed
much among the Magi, Chaldeans and Scythians, from whom they
passed to the Scandinavians, and thence to the Germans, whom Tacitus
observes to make use of Belomancy. [copied in Daniels & Stevans
1903]
1898 Hastings Dict. of the Bible i. 612.
Rhabdomancy or xylomancy (Hos 412) and belomancy (Ezk 2121) are
but forms of divining by the aid of a tree-god.
1899 Cheyne & Black Encyclop‘dia Biblica i.
1117/1. Belomancy..a development of rhabdomancy, is
mentioned in Ezek. 21 23 ff., where the Babylonian king is
said..to have 'shaken the arrows to and fro.'
1903 Daniels & Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci.
(1971) III 1662. [text copied from Howitt 1893]
1913 Halliday Greek Div. x. 226. Rhabdomancy
or belomancy does not concern the student of Greek divination. Its
mention here is rendered necessary solely by the fact that careless
writers are often to be found referring to the Hellenic art of
rhabdomancy, or even to "the divining rod" of Greece.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 67/1: Belomancy...
Another method deserves mention. This was to throw a certain number
of arrows into the air, and the direction in which the arrow inclined as
it fell, pointed out the course to be taken by the inquirer.
1931 Lock tr. de G
Variant Forms: anthropomancia,
anthropomancie, (erroneous) antinopomancy.
Ibid. 330. In Holiday's Marriage
of the Arts, 4to., is introduced a species of divination not in the above
ample list of them, entitled Anthropomancie.
Ibid. 420
[index] "Anthropomancia," iii, 300.
Ibid. 330. In Holiday's Marriage of the Arts,
4to., is introduced a species of divination not in the above ample list of
them, entitled Anthropomancie.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 28/2:
Apantomancy: Divination by means of any objects which happen to
present themselves. To this class belong the omens drawn from chance
meetings with a hare, an eagle, etc.
Ibid.
142. Arachnomancy Predicting from the appearance and
behavior of spiders.
NOTES: Not in OED.
arithmancy: divination by numbers; numerology.
1577 in OED.
1621 in OED.armomancy
A method of divination employing the shoulder blades of animals. The
shoulder blade was taken from the dead beast and thrown into a fire,
the cracks appearing in the bone were interpreted as indicative
of future events, a course of action, or whether or not something
was true.
Citations
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..Armomancy, by the shoulders of
beasts.
Ibid.: Armomancy (armomancia)
Divination by the shoulders of beasts.
Note
ash-onomancy
A poorly concocted translation of the French word tephramantie
occuring in Raffel's 1990 translation of Rabelais, chapter xxv., page 360.
aspidomancy
A method of divination in which the diviner sits on a shield and
goes into a state of altered consciousness to gain prophetic
knowledge. The word first appears in the New Latin form aspidomantia,
and is derived from the Greek 'aspid-, the combining form of
'aspis a shield.Citations
[1713 Fabricii Bibliographia Antiquaria xii. 411:
Aspidomantia, per clypeum.]
astragalomancy: 1. a. (literally)
divination by huckle-bones. The Greek word 'àpçpàyà^oi
(astragaloi) (plural) referred to a type of dice, which were
originally made from the knuckle-bones or huckle-bones of sheep.
These 'àpçpàyà^oi actually only had four flat sides which were
marked (the other two being rounded), as distinguised from the six-
sided kváoi (kuboi) - see cubomancy. b. a specific
type of divination in which 'àpçpàyà^oi were tossed onto the pages
of a picture book. This is what is being referred to by Rabelais, who
got his information from C‘lius Calcagninus, Compendium
amatori‘ magi‘ (ed. Froben Bale, 1544) "Astragalomantia, ex
astragalorum jactu in picturarum libellum, qua imprimis nostrates
f§min‘ uti solent."
2. (hence) divination by dice.
astromancy
Divination by the stars; what is now generally called astrology.
The word astromancy enters 17th century English from the
medieval Latin astromantia, which comes from the Greek
(Siculus Diodorus) 'astromanteia, derived from
'astron a star. In earilest example of its use in English
it occurs in the New Latin form astromantia. Another, more
recent, form is the rare astronomancy, which shows influence
from the word astronomy.
Citations
1624 G. Carleton, Astrolgomania: The Madnesse
of Astrologers (Epistle Dedicatory) 3: But take Astrologie for
Astromantia or Genesiologia, as the Knight doth in his
Book, and then we are right when we call it an Imposture, Iugling,
Superstition, Vanity.
Thy spirit's restlesse, Now thy busie fancy
Diverts it self in th' Art of Astromancy.
In Dictionaries
Although this word is well aatested in the 17th century, it did
not appear in any of the early hard word dictionaries.
austromancy
Divination by a study of the winds; presages taken from the wind. Cf.
aeromancy, chaomancy. Derived
from austro-, combining form of Latin auster the south
wind. New Latin form austromantia.
Citations
1650 French Chymical Dictionary (1674) 313:
Austromantia is a certain kind of Superstition invented
concerning the observations of Winds, as when the Stars of the Winds
break forth into great vehemency, contrary to their custom, whence men
that are more idle that rational, pronounce a presage of something to
come.
axinomancy: 1. any divination employing an
axe or hatchet, various methods including a. (1727) by their
movement when balanced on a post. b. (a1660)
placing an agate stone, piece of jet, or some other precious or semi-
precious stone upon the axe-head and heating the metal, the signs being
read from the movement of the agate. See quot. 1973 for more
methods. 2. (Gaule, and copyists, only) divination by saws.
Etymology
Variant Forms
Citations
In Dictionaries
[L
axinomantia, Gk 'àîivomanteia (axinomanteia),
from Gk 'àîivn (axine) axe] Variant forms: axiomancy
(Blount, cf. Agrippa axiomantia), axionomancy (Urquhart,
following Cotgrave), ax-onomancy (Raffel). NL - axinomantia.
Ibid. Axiomancy (axiomantia)
divination or witchcraft done by Hatchets.
[LGk
áî^oæàvçià (belomantia), from áî^oc (belos)
arrow, dart] Variant Forms: bellomancy, (?) bolomancy. NL belomantia.
Ibid., 330 The methods of using the lots have been very
numerous, such as Rhabdomancy, Clidomancy, and the Sortes
Sagittari‘, otherwise Belomancy, and the common casting of dice.