1871 Tylor Primitive Culture (1891) i. iv. 124. With haruspication may be classed the art of divining by bones, as where the North American Indians would put in the fire a certain falt bone of a porcupine, and judge from its colour if the procupine hunt would be successful. The principle art of this kind is divination by a shoulder-blade, technically called scapulimancy or omoplatoscopy.
1903 Daniels &ast Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1662. scapulamancy - Is practiced by the tribes of Asia and Central Africa. It consists in reading the cracks that come in the dried shoulder blade of a sheep.
1913 Halliday Greek Div. ix. 186. Omoplatoscopy or scapulomancy, to which in Greek as far as I know there is no direct reference earlier than Psellus, is interesting as an example of how a rite, originally a sub-rite of sacrifice, may become an independent mode of divination. As one or other it is familiar in many parts of the world.
1970 Man, Myth &ast Magic v. 658: Scapulomancy - by the shoulder-blades of animals.
1973 K. Ellis Prediction and Prophecy iii. 47. Omar Khayyam Moore, an assistant professor of sociology at Yale University, suggested a reason for thinking that scapulomancy, or divination by shoulder-blade, may have provided at least "some approximate solutions for recurring problems" (American Anthropologist, February, 1957).
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. SCAPULOMANCY or SPEALOMANCY: Divination from the markings on the shoulder bone of an animal, particularly a sheep.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 143. Scapulomancy Predicting from the patterns of cracks and fissures on the burned shoulder blade of an animal.
1985 G. Luck Arcana Mundi 253. When the shoulder blade of a sheep is heated over the coals, one uses the term omoplatoscopy or scapulomancy.
1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. SCAPULIMANCY - studying a charred or cracked shoulder blade. In Dictionaries
1899 Century Dict. (1903) VII scapulimancy.. Divination by means of a shoulder-blade: same as omoplatoscopy. [citing Tylor]
1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. scapulimancy..Same as onoplatoscopy.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) VI - scapuli-
1910 OED
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. scapulimancy [minor words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict. scapulimancy..Divination by a shoulder-blade.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16. scapulimancy, the cracks in the shoulder-blade when the bone is placed on a fire.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. scapulimancy/scapulomancy
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. scapulimancy..fortunetelling by studying a charred or cracked shoulder blade.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.) 212. scapulomancy a form of divination in which a shoulder blade is heated in a fire and the resulting cracks in the bone are consulted for omens. Cf. armomancy, omoplatoscopy, spatulamancy. --scapulomantic, adj.
1987 Random House Dict.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
NOTES: OED scapulimancy 1871 Tylor P.Cult. etym calls it a hybrid.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast
Prophecy (1989) 324. SCARPOMANCY: A modern method of
reading character from a study of a person's old shoes.
NOTES: Not in OED. Cent. dict gives 'scarpology' d. of character by
reading someone's shoe-heels and -soles. Labels 'recent' and gives cit.
from "Science, VIII. 185"
[1530 Agrippa De incertitudine &ast vanitate scientiarum atque artium: Hinc Scatomantia, Oromantia, Drimimantia, dicuntur divinationes seu prognostica medicor&umacr ex stercoribus &ast vrinis deprompta.]
1569 Sanford tr. Agrippa Of the vanitye and uncertainties of atres and sciences lxxxiii, 145 b. (OED) For this cause Scatomancie, Oromancie, Drymimancie, be called diuinations or Prognostications of Phisitians gathered by ordures and urines.
[1603 Christopher Heydon A Defence of Ivdiciall Astrologie 9. Others also in derision name them, [sc. physicians] Scatomantes, Ouromantes, Drymimantes, to signify that their chiefest divination and living is by base matters; as by excrements, vrine, and the like, according to the verse: Stercus &ast vrina, Medicorum fercula prima.]
1861 C. Reade The Cloister and the Hearth xxvi (OED, Cent.) I studied at Montpelier...There learned I dririmancy, scatomancy, pathology, therapeusis, and greater than them all, anatomy. [etc].
1891 John G. Bourke Scatalogic Rites of all Nations xxxv. 246: Among the ancients there was a method of divination by excrementitious materials. ---(See "Scatomancie," in Bib. Scat. p.28.)
1970 Man, Myth &ast Magic v. 658: Scatomancy - by inspection of excrement.
1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. SCATOMANCY - faeces. In Dictionaries
1899 Century Dict. (1903) VII scatomancy.. Divination or diagnosis of disease by inspection of excrement. Compare scatology. [cites Reade]
1899 New Sydenham Society's Lexicon V: 1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. scatomancy..Folk-lore. Divination or determination of disease by means of feces.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) VI
1910 OED
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. scatomancy [minor words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict. scatomancy..scatoscopy..Divination or diagnosis by means of fæces.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 17. scatomancy, feces, dung.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. scatomancy..fortunetelling by studying feces.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.)
212. scatomancy a form of divination by examination of
excrement.
NOTES: OED 1569, 1861, 1897 (Syd. Soc. Lex.)
1826-7 Encyc. Metrop. (1845) xviii. 175. (OED) [Modes of divination amoung the Arabs.] Schematomancy (kiy fah).
1855 Henry Thompson in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 296 Among the Arabs the science of prognostication (Ilmi fir set) or art of discovering secret objects by the interpretation of mysterious indications, known only to adepts, is subdivided into twelve branches: 1. Physiognomy, (fir sah;) 2. Phantasmognomy, (kha‹latwa-sham t;) 3. Chiromancy, ( s s¡r;) 4. Onomancy, (akt f;) 5. Ichnomancy, (iy fah;) 6. Schematomancy, (kiy fah;) 7. The art of discovering the road in a desert, (ihtid… bi 'l ber r wa'l acf r;) 8. Of finding springs, (riy fah;) 9. Minerals; 10. The prognostication of storms, (nuz£li gha‹th;) 11. Hydromancy, (cr fah;) Spasmatomancy, (ikhtil j.)
1910 OED
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.)
212. schematomancy divination of a person's future from
observation of physical appearance.
NOTES: OED 1826-7 only.
1623 (1st ed.) in OED. 1626 Cockeram The English Dictionarie (2nd ed.) Sciomancy, Diuination by shadowes.
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French &ast Eng.
Tongues Sciomance. Diuination by conference with the shadows of
dead men.
Ibid. Scyomance. Diuination by conference with the
shadowes of dead men.]
1656 Blount Glossographia Sciomantie (sciomantia) the part of Necromancy, practised by shadows.
1658 Phillips New World of Eng. Words: Sciomancy, (Greek) a divining by shadows.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Sciomantie, g. divining by shadows.
1740 Dyche &ast Pardon New General Eng. Dict.: sciomancy (s.) a divination by shadows; also the pretended art of raising the spirits of the dead, &astc.
1755 Bailey An Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. (16th ed.) SCIOMANCY [Sciomantia, L. of åkiomanteia, of åkià, and manteia Divination, Gr.] a Divination by Shadows; a calling up of Ghosts by Magick.
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by shadows or manes, Sciomancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. ii. pyromancy..Divination by shadows.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang. sciomancy..(Ant.) Divination by shadows; the art of raising or calling up ghosts. Crabb.
1899 Century Dict. (1903) VII sciomancy.. Divination by means of the shades of the dead; psychomancy.
1899 New Sydenham Society's Lexicon V: 1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. sciomancy..Folk-lore. Divination by shades or departed spirits; psychomancy.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) VI
1910 OED
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. sciomancy .. Divination by shadows. [minor words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict. sciomancy..Divination through the shades of the dead.
1932 Wyld Universal Dict. Divination by means of communication with the shades of the dead.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16. sciomancy, shadows, or the shades of the dead.
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. sciomancy .. divination by consulting the shades of the dead.
1981 Macquarie Dict. (1st ed.) sciomancy..divination gained through the aid of supernatural agencies.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 sciomancy (spirits)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.) 212. sciomancy a form of divination through communication with the spirits of the dead. --sciomantic, adj. In other texts
1650 French tr. Paracelsus Nine Books Of the Nature of Things (1674) ix. 287: The ancient Chaldeans and Grecians, if in times of War fearing to be driven away, or banished, they would hide their Treasure, would mark the place no otherwise than propose to themselves a certain day, hour and minute of the year, and did observe in what place the Sun or Moon should cast their shadow, and there did bury and hide their Treasure. This Art they call Sciomancy, i.e. the Art of Shadowing. By these Shadowings many Arts have had their ground, and many hid things have been revealed, and all Spirits and Astral bodies are known.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 166. ..Sciomancy, by shadowes...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &ast Pantagruel iii. xxv. 135: Or for the more certainty, will you have trial of your Fortune by the Art of Aruspiciny? by Augury? or by Extispicine? By Turdispicine, quoth Panurge; or yet by the Mystery of Negromancy? I will, if you please, suddenly set up again, and revive some one lately deceased, as Apollonius of Tyan did to Achilles, and the Pythoniss in the Presence of Saul; which Body so raised up, and requickened, will tell us the Sum of all you shall require of him; no more or less than at the Invocation of Erictho, a certain defunct Person, foretold to Pompey the whole Progress and Issue of the fatal Battle fought in the Pharsalian Fields? Or if you be afraid of the Dead, as commonly all Cuckolds are, I will make use of the Faculty of Sciomancy.
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 330. Scyomancy [citing Gaule, though changing spelling]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions 252. Sciomancy, by shadows. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1893 Howitt tr. Ennemoser Hist. of Magic ii. 460: psycomancy, or sciomancy - Was an art among the ancients of raising or calling up the names or souls of deceased persons, to give intelligence of things to come. The witch who conjured up the soul of Samuel, to foretell Saul the event of the battle he was about to begin, did so by Sciomancy.
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 164. ..I will make use of the faculty of sciomancy.
1901 A.W. Ward Marlowe's Faustus 142: In Bk. i. of his work De Occultâ Philosophâ, Agrippa gives directions for the operations of sciomancy...
1903 Daniels &ast Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1661. [text copied from Howitt 1893]
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 362 Or, if you be afraid of the dead, as commonly all cuckolds are, I will make use of the faculty of sciomancy.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Sciomancy, by shadows.
1970 Man, Myth &ast Magic v. 658: Sciomancy - by shadows, or ghosts.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient &ast Forbidden Knowledge 470: SCIOMANCY: A term for divination gained through Spirit aid.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. SCIOMANCY: Primitive lore abounds with omens pertaining to shadows, their size, shape, and changing appearance. It was believed that danger or death could follow an attack on a person's shadow, which was often identified with the soul. From this developed sciomancy, or the art of divination through shadows, which could supposedly be called back from the dead and questioned as to future events. This represented an early form of necromancy.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. SCIOMANCY -
shadows or shades.
NOTES: OED 1623 Cockeram 1st ed., 1647, 1656 Blount, 1693 Urq.,
1728 Chambers, 1752 ibid., 1852 Roget. Sciomantic 1859.
This is essentially identical to necromancy, yet is not ever? defined in
the same way. The lexicographers sillily feel the need to use the now
obsolete word 'shade' because etymologically it is neat. However, since
'shade' has lost this meaning in English, this can hardly be acceptable
dictionary practise. ? This supports the theory that these words are
included because of their erudite nature, rather than their 'usage'
popularity or usefulness.
Rabelais is having a little joke here since Sciomancy is the same
as Negromancy. BUT see alternate def. 1650! See Bailey 1755
"SCIAGRAPHY [Astronomy] the Art of finding out the Hour of
the Day or Night, by the Shadow of the Sun, Moon or Stars."
In New Latin - Cælius Calcagninus, Compendium amatoriæ
magiæ (ed. Froben Bale, 1544) "Omnium denique defamatissimæ,
necyomantia, psychomantia et sciomantia, per cadavera, animas et
umbras."
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 317. scyphomancy, or divination by the cup, is one of the most ancient methods of discovering future events by crystalline reflection. The divining cup of Joseph shows that its use was familiar in Egypt at that remote period. The famous cup of Djemscheed, which is the constant theme of the poetry and mythology of Persia, was said to have been discovered, full of the elixir or immortality, while digging to lay the foundations of Persepolis. It possessed the property of representing the whole world in its concavity, and all things, good and bad, then doing in it.
1903 Daniels &ast Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1662. scyphomancy - Was in reading the future from a cup of water on which floated a drop of oil. Images foreshadowing the future were seen by the diviner there.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. SCYPHOMANCY: Dating from ancient Egypt, drinking cups were used in divination, the early form being to fill the cup to the brim, pour out a libation to the god invoked, and look for the answer in the cup. Later methods consisted of dropping small particles of tinsel in a cup of water and noting the shapes they took, this being an early mode of modem teacup reading. In Dictionaries
1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. scyphomancy..Divination by means of a cup: one of the most ancient methods.
1911 OED
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. scyphomancy [minor words list]
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.)
212. scyphomancy a form of divination involving the use of a
cup.
NOTES: OED 1855 only.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 17. selenomancy, the moon.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. SELENOMANCY: A specialized form of divination involving the various aspects, phases, and appearances of the moon.
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.)
212. selenomancy a form of divination involving observation
of the moon.
NOTES: Not in OED.
[1696-9 Potter Archæologia Græca]
[1713 Fabricii Bibliographia Antiquaria xii. 420: Sideromantia per ferrum candens.]
1727 Bailey The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. i SIDEROMANCY [äiënpomanteia of åiënpà Iron or Steel, and manteia, Divination] a Divination performed by a red-hot Iron, upon which they laid an odd Number of Straws, and observed what Figures, Bendings, Sparkings, &astc, they made in burning.
1740 Dyche &ast Pardon New General Eng. Dict.: sideromancy (s.) a pretended sort of divination performed with red- hot iron, upon which was laid an odd number of straws, and the figures, bendings, or sparklings thereof were the indication to judge from.
1823 Crabb Technol. Dict. (OED) Sideromancy (Ant.), a species of divination performed by burning straws, &astc., on red-hot iron, in which operation conjectures were formed from the manner of their burning, etc.
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by red-hot iron, Sideromancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. ii. sideromancy..A species of divination performed by burning straws, &astc. upon red-hot iron. By observing their figures, bendings, sparklings, and burning, prognostics were obtained.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang. sideromancy..Divination by ashes. Crabb.
1899 Century Dict. (1903) VII sideromancy.. A species of divination performed by burning straws, etc., upon red-hot iron, and observing their bendings, figures, sparkling, and burning.
1903 Daniels &ast Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1663. sideromancy - Conjuring with a hot iron, on which they laid an odd number of straws. The result required was obtained by observing the contortions made by the straws in burning.
1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. sideromancy..Divination by observing the figures, etc., assumed by straws burned on red-hot iron.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) VI
1910 OED
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. sideromancy [minor words list]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 17. sideromancy, hot metal.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. sideromancy..1. fortunetelling from looking at stars.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 sideromancy (hot irons)
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x. 1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.) 212. sideromancy 1. astromancy. 2. a form of divination involving observation of the sparks, shapes formed. etc., when straws are burnt against a red-hot iron. In other texts
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of Sorcery (1963) viii. 304: In sideromancy an odd number of straws were thrown upon red-hot iron, "and," says de l'Ancre, "while they burned judgment was formed from the movement of the straws, from their twisting or bending, from the fiery figures of the sparkling of the flames, and from the flight and course of the smoke and otherwise."
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 169: Sideromancy: Divination by observing straws placed on a piece of red- hot iron.
1970 Man, Myth &ast Magic v. 658: Sideromancy - by the movements of straws placed on red-hot iron.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient &ast Forbidden Knowledge 470: SIDEROMANCY: The burning of straws on a hot iron and studying the figures thus formed, along with flames and smoke.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. SIDEROMANCY: An old rite of dropping straws upon red-hot iron and divining the future by studying the peculiar shapes they take.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 144. Sideromancy Divination by casting an odd number of straws onto an iron brought to red heat in a fire and reading omens in the patterns formed by the straws, their movements as they burn, and the nature of the flames and smoke.
1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. SIDEROMANCY -
(1) looking at stars (2) watching burning straw (3) a red hot iron
NOTES: 1823 as above. Bailey pre-dates by a century. Cent. steals
half def. from Crabb.
1859 Sat. Rev. VII. 179 (OED) What most likely the prophet would in conversation mention as a general scrimmage, but in sideromancy describes as, 'nations bristling with bayonets, &astc.'
1910 OED
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. sideromancy..2. fortunetelling from watching buring straw.
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x. 1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.) 212. See prec.
1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. See prec.
NOTES: 1859 as above. 1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.:
Siderated, l. planet-struck.
1855 Henry Thompson in Smedley et al. Occult Sci. 296 Among the Arabs the science of prognostication (Ilmi fir set) or art of discovering secret objects by the interpretation of mysterious indications, known only to adepts, is subdivided into twelve branches: 1. Physiognomy, (fir sah;) 2. Phantasmognomy, (kha‹latwa-sham t;) 3. Chiromancy, ( s s¡r;) 4. Onomancy, (akt f;) 5. Ichnomancy, (iy fah;) 6. Schematomancy, (kiy fah;) 7. The art of discovering the road in a desert, (ihtid… bi 'l ber r wa'l acf r;) 8. Of finding springs, (riy fah;) 9. Minerals; 10. The prognostication of storms, (nuz£li gha‹th;) 11. Hydromancy, (cr fah;) Spasmatomancy, (ikhtil j.) In Dictionaries
1899 Century Dict. (1903) VII spasmatomancy.. Divination from spasmodic or involuntary movement, as of muscles, features, or limbs. [cites Encyc. Brit.]
1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. spasmatomancy..Folk-lore. Divination from spasmodic movements of the body.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) supp. - citing Encyc. Brit. xix. 4
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. spasmatomancy [minor words list]
1913 OED
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 17. spasmatomancy, bodily twitchings.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. spasmatomancy..fortunetelling by observing a twitching body.
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x. 1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.) 212. spasmatomancy a form of divination used to foretell disease by observing spasms or twitching of the potential sufferer's body.
1993 McCormack Q&astA 71.
SPASMATOMANCY - observing a twitching body.
NOTES: OED 1855 Smedley - same pagination, but not this cit!!; 1885
Encyc. Brit.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 166. ..Spatalamancy, by skins, bones, excrements...
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 330. [citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/2: [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1891 John G. Bourke Scatalogic Rites of all Nations xxxv. 246: One of the kinds enumerated [sc. in Brand] is "Spatalomancy, by skin, bones, excrement."
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Spatalamancy, by skins, bones, excrements. In Dictionaries
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. spatalamancy n. [Error for spatilomancy, fr. Gr. åãàçi^n parings, excrement..] Divination by means of skins, bones, or excrement. Obs. [minor words list]
1913 OED
NOTES: OED under hwd 'spatulomancy' with the note - "In quot. 1652
there is app. some error or omission, as the explanation would more
properly apply to *spatilomancy, f. Gr. spatile excrement,
parings of leather."
1852 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions 252. Spatilomancy, by skins, bones, &astc. [supposedly citing Hone citing Gaule] In Dictionaries
1899 Century Dict. (1903) VII spatilomancy.. Divination by means of animal excrements and refuse.
1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. spatilomancy..Folk-lore. Divination from the observation of animal excreta.
1912 see above.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. spatilomancy..fortunetelling by observing animal's droppings.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.) 212. spatilomancy, spatalamancy a form of divination involving the examination of animal feces.
1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. SPATILOMANCY -
observing animal droppings.
NOTES: Not listed as hwd in OED. The Cent. Dict. has the headword
'spatilomancy', arrived at from normalising Gaule's spelling
'spatalamancy'. Mackay also normalised. Such normalising has led to
other sources accepting the word as is.
1620 J. Melton Astrologaster 71: If they fore-tell of any thing that should happen by the signs they see in the shoulder- blades of Beastes; then it is called Spatalmancia.
[? 1652 Gaule - see prec.]
1720 in OED
1834 J.G. Dalyell Darker Superst. of Scotland 515: Shoulder Blade, or Reading the Spale Bone. - It is uncertain whether the humbler class of Scotish seers did more than free the shoulder blade of a sheep of its flesh, and turning towards the east divined futurity from the lines, shades, or transparence disclosed by its inequalities. This species of divination corresponds with the Spatulantia [sic] of demonographers, as derived from the Spatula of anatomy: and in a synopsis comprehending diviners and divination, the Spatulamantes naturally enough follow the Chiromates.
1887 in OED
1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. SPATULOMANCY - a sheep's shoulder blade. In Dictionaries
1899 Century Dict. (1903) VII spatulamancy.. A method of divination by a sheep's shoulder- blade.
1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. spatulamancy..Folk-lore. Divination by a sheep's shoulder-blade.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) supp.
1913 OED
1961 Webs. Third New Int. Dict. spatulamancy
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. spatulomancy..fortunetelling with a sheep's should blade.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.)
212. spatulamancy a form of divination by means of an
animal's shoulder blade. Cf. armomancy,
omoplatoscopy, scapulomancy. --
spatulamantic, adj.
NOTES: OED cites Gaule (see spatalamancy) but the sense does not
agree at all. OED then 1720 De Foe 'D. Campbell'; 1887 Ribton-
Turner 'Vagrants &ast Vagrancy'. Cent. notes in etymology that the
proper form should be *spatulomancy. Dalyell cites Erastus 'de
Astrolgia Divinatrica', p. 90-1.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast
Prophecy (1989) 324. SCAPULOMANCY or SPEALOMANCY:
Divination from the markings on the shoulder bone of an animal,
particularly a sheep.
NOTES: Not in OED. Apparently coined by the Gibsons. 'reading the
speal-bone' appears in 1771 Pennant 'Tour Scotland 1769'; 1802
Sibbard, and 1871 Tylor 'Prim. Cult.' The word 'speal' is a var. of
Scot. spule-bane, from spule shoulder, ? from Scot
spauld from OF espalde shoulder, ult. from L
spatula shoulder-blade.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 16.
spheromancy, a crystal sphere.
NOTES: Not in OED.
1913 Halliday Greek Div. x. 219. To the same
species of divinatory rites [i.e. those involving a swinging pendulum]
belong the koskinomancy of Theokritos, familiar in England as the
consultation of the sieve and shears, and the minor rites of axinomancy
and sphondylomancy.
NOTES: Not in OED. etym? according to L&astS it is right.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. SPLANCHOMANCY: [sic] A form of anthropomancy practiced by the ancient Etruscans, involving predictions gained from a study of the entrails of sacrificial victims.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult Splanchnomancy
NOTES: Not in OED. Should be 'splanchnomancy'
1836 in OED.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 387/2: Spodomancy: Divination by means of the cinders from sacrificial fires.
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 174: Spodomancy: Divination by examining the ashes of a sacrifice for omens.
1970 Man, Myth &ast Magic v. 658: Spodomancy - from ashes.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient &ast Forbidden Knowledge 470: SPODOMANCY: Provides omens from cinders or soot.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. SPODOMANCY: An ancient mode of divination through an examination of ashes, particularly those remaining from a sacrificial fire.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism &ast Occult
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x. 1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. SPODOMANCY - ashes. In Dictionaries
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. ii. supp. spodomancy..Divination by ashes.
1899 Century Dict. (1903) VII spodomancy.. Divination by means of ashes.
1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. spodomancy..Folk-lore. Divination by ashes.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) VI
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. spodomancy [minor words list]
1914 OED [citing Smart]
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict. [marked obsolete]
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. spodomancy..fortunetelling with ashes.
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.) 212. spodomancy a form of divination through the uses of ashes. --spodomantic. adj.
1988 Chambers Eng. Dict.
NOTES: OED merely states "(Smart, 1836)", and gives one cit for
'spodomantic' 1857 Kingsley, 'Two Years Ago'
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165. ..Stareomancy, or divining by the Elements...
1777 Brand Popular Antiquities (1844) iii. 329. [citing Gaule]
1832 Hone Year Bk 1517/1: [citing Gaule (via Brand)]
1853 Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions 251. Stereomancy, or divining by the elements. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Stareomancy, or divining by the elements.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. STAREOMANCY: A somewhat general term, covering divinations by the ancient elements of fire, earth, air, and water.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult 212/1:
Stareomancy - A variant spelling of 'stereomancy', a term derived from
the Greek stereos ('solid') and manteia (divination) and
applied to a method of predicting the future from the elements. While
obscure in reference to a particular form of divination, it may be
applied to what Agrippa called the 'four famous kinds of divination'
which use the four elements - geomancy (Earth), hydromancy (Water),
aeromancy (Air) and pyromancy (Fire).
NOTES: Not in OED. A Gauleism, coming into modern occult
encyclopedias via Gaule's copyists.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 17.
stercomancy, seeds in dung.
NOTES: Not in OED.
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xiv.: sternomanteia]
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 165. ..Sternomancy, [divining] from the breast to the belly...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &ast Pantagruel iii. xxv. 133: By Sternomancy, which maketh nothing for thy Advantage, for thou hast an ill-proportion'd Stomach.
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. Sternomancy, by the marks from the breast to the belly. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 162. By sternomancy...
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &ast Pantagruel iii. xxv. 153. By sternomancy...
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By sternomancy, which maketh nothing for thy advantage, for thou hast an ill proportioned stomach.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Sternomancy, from the breast to the belly.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult In Dictionaries
1656 Blount Glossographia Sternomancy (sternomantia) divination by a mans breast.
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French &ast Eng. Tongues Sternomantie: f. Diuination by a man's breast.]
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. sternomancy [minor words list]
1916 OED
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.)
212. sternomancy a form of divination involving examination
of the breastbone.
NOTES: OED Gaule, Urq. only. L&astS says that åçîpvoæàvçic =
thumomantis &ast engastrimythos.
In New Latin - Cælius Calcagninus, Compendium amatoriæ
magiæ (ed. Froben Bale, 1544) "Sternomantia, de pectoris
habitudine ac reliqua corporis membratura sumens præsagia."
[1583 Weyer De praestigiis daemonum xiii.: stoicheiomanteia [sic]]
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &ast Pantagruel iii. xxv. 134: By a Sibylline Stichomancy.
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 163. By a sibylline stichomancy.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 388/2: Stoicheomancy: A method of divination which is practised by opening the works of Homer or Virgil, and reading as an oracular statement the first verse which presents itself. It is a branch of rhapsodomancy.
1931 Lock tr. de Givry Picture Museum of Sorcery (1963) viii. 299: But the easier and more seemly method of stichomancy was preserved still longer. This consisted of opening a book at random and interpreting the first words read in prophetic fashion. This usage was also imitated from antiquity, which made use of the books of Homer or Virgil; hence the appellations "Homeric lots" and "Virgilian lots" - sortes Virgilianæ - given to this kind of divination. The Christians substituted the Gospels and the Bible, and the Virgilian lots became the "lots of the saints" - sortes sanctorum. This custom was forbidden by many Councils, but was nevertheless openly practised in the churches by the very clergy.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By a sibylline stitchomancy.
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 174: Stichomancy: Divination by means of a passage picked from a book at random.
1970 Man, Myth &ast Magic v. 658: Stichomancy - from random passages in books.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient &ast Forbidden Knowledge 470: STICHOMANCY: Another form of opening a book, hoping a random passage will give inspiration. This is something many people follow today.
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. STICHOMANCY or STOICHOMANCY: Another form of bibliomancy, utilizing a random passage from a book for divining the future.
1983 Complete Bk Predictions 105. Bibliomancy is also called stichomancy: a "stich" is a line of verse or a short section of prose.
1985 N. Drury Dict. Mysticism &ast Occult
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult 212/2: Stoicheiomancy - A term presumed to be derived from the Greek staicheiomanticoi [sic] ('those who cast horoscopes'), but applied to a method of diving by the random opening of a book, such as Virgil or the Bible, and taking the first paragraph on the page as an answer to an already formulated question.
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x. 1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. STICHOMANCY - passages in books. In Dictionaries
1852 Roget Thes. § 511. ..by passages in books, Stichomancy...
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. ii. stichomancy..Divination by lines or passages in books taken at hazard. This species of divination was in use among the Romans. Verses from the Sibylline books were written on small slips of paper, which were shaken in a vessel, and one of the drawn out, in order to discover from it some intimation of future events. Of the same kind were the Sortes Virgilianæ, Homericæ, &astc.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang. stichomancy..Divination by lines or passages in a book, taken at hazard. Brande.
1899 Century Dict. (1903) VII stichomancy.. Divination by lines or passages in books taken at hazard; bibliomancy.
1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. stichomancy..Folk-lore. The art of divining by selecting at hazard lines or passages from books.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) VI
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. stichomancy [main words list]
1916 OED
c1920 Cassell's New Eng. Dict.
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 17. stichomancy, a verse, a passage in a book.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. stichomancy..fortunetelling by passages from books.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 stichomancy (passages in books)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.) 212. stichomancy a form of divination involving lines of poetry or passages from books. NOTES: OED Urq. I assume 1951 is an erroneous form.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Stoikesomaticks,
g. the Makers of certain Chaldean figures or Images.
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French &ast Eng. Tongues Sticonomantie: f. Diuination by words written on the barke of trees.]
1656 Blount Glossographia Sticonomanty (Gr.) Divination by words written on the barks of trees.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Stigonomancy, g. divination by writing on bark of trees.
1871 Ogilvie Imperial Dict. ii. stigonomancy..Divination by writing on the bark of a tree.
1882 Worcester Dict. of the Eng. Lang. stigonomancy..Divination by writing on the bark of a tree. Ash.
1908 Funk &ast Wagnalls Standard Dict. ii. stigonomancy..Folk-lore. Divination by writing on the bark of a tree.
1910 Encyc. Dict. (Cassell's) VI
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. stigonomancy [minor words list]
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. stigonomancy..fortunetelling by writing on tree bark.
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x. 1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.) 212. stignomancy [sic] a form of divination involving the examination of writing on or carving in the bark of a tree.
1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. STIGONOMANCY -
writing on tree bark.
NOTES: Not in OED.; - Bount's hwd misspelt, following Cotgrave.
Fixed up by others. Urdang should know better.
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 388/2: Stolisomancy: Divination from the manner in which a person dresses himself. Augustus believed that a military revolt was predicted on the morning of its occurrence by the fact that his valet had buckled his right sandal to his left foot.
1953 Gaynor (ed.) Dict. Mysticism (1974) 174: Stolisomancy: Divination from the manner of dressing; the belief that the way in which certain articles of clothing are put on or worn determines or produces certain events affecting the wearer.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient &ast Forbidden Knowledge 470: STOLISOMANCY: [sic] Draws omens from oddities in the way people dress.
1986 F. Gettings Encyc. Occult 212/2:
Stolisomancy - An ancient form of divination, apparently based on the
chance accidence of dress.
NOTES: Not in OED.
1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix. 166. ..Sycomancy, by Figgs...
a1660 (1693) Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &ast Pantagruel iii. xxv. 134: By Sicomancy; O Divine Art in Fig-tree Leaves!
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. Sycomancy, by figs. [citing Hone citing Gaule]
1895 Elworthy Evil Eye 445 (OED) Conjuring with fig leaves was called sycomancy.
1897 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Works of Rabelais iii. xxv. 162. By sicomancy...
1903 Daniels &ast Stevans Encyc. Occult Sci. (1971) III 1663. botanomancy - Conjuring with herbs. Sometimes fig-leaves were used, and then it was called Sycomancy. The diviners wrote names and questions on leaves, which were then exposed to the winds. Those remaining furnished the answers sought.
1904 Urquhart tr. Rabelais Gargantua &ast Pantagruel iii. xxv. 154. By sicomancy...
1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult 397/1: Sycomancy: Divination by the leaves of the fig tree. Questions or propositions on which one wished to be enlightened were written on these leaves. If the leaf dried quickly after the appeal to the diviner, it was an evil omen; but a good augury if the leaf dried slowly.
1951 Works of Rabelais III. xxv. 361 By sycomancy; O divine art in fig-tree leaves.
1959 Robbins Encyc. of Witchcraft and Demonology 139. [citing Gaule] Sycomancy, by figs.
1970 Zolar Encyc. of Ancient &ast Forbidden Knowledge 470: SYCOMANCY: Performed by writing messages on tree leaves; the slower they dry, the better the omen. A more modern way is to write question on slips of paper, roll them up, and hold them in a strainer above a steaming pot. Whichever paper unrolls first will be the one answered. A blank slip should always be included in the group.
1973 K. Ellis Prediction and Prophecy iii. 41. Sycomancy. Divination by putting questions to a fig tree whose leaves either kept their freshness (answer - Yes) or withered (answer - No).
1973 Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. &ast Prophecy (1989) 324. SYCHOMANCY: This consisted of writing names or messages on leaves of a fig tree and letting them dry out. If they dried slowly, it would bode well for whoever or whatever was mentioned; if rapidly, a bad omen. This ancient form of augury can be tested with leaves from sycamores or other trees. There is a modern version involving ivy leaves, which are placed in water for five days and then examined. If still fresh and green, good health should attend the person named thereon, but a spotted, darkened leaf denotes illness or misfortune in proportion to the number of such sinister marks.
1986 P. Hellweg Insomniac's Dict. x. 1993 McCormack Q&astA 71. SYCOMANCY - figs. In Dictionaries
[1632 Cotgrave Dictionarie of French &ast Eng. Tongues Sycomantie: f. Diuination by Figg-leaues.]
1656 Blount Glossographia Sycomancy Divination by Fig, or Sycomore Leaves.
1676 Coles An Eng. Dict.: Sycomanty, g. divination by a Fig or Sycamore.
1912 Webs. New Int. Dict. sycomancy [minor words list; labelled obsolete]
1919 OED
1955 Shipley Dict. Early Eng. (1963) 17. sycomancy, figs.
1974 Mrs. Byrne's Dict. sycomancy..fortunetelling with figs.
1984 Macquarie Thes. § 268.6 sycomancy (writing on leaves)
1986 Urdang (ed.) -Ologies &ast -Isms (3rd ed.)
212. sycomancy a form of divination involving figs or fig
leaves.
NOTES: OED Gaule, Urq. then 1895 as above.
1855 Elihu Rich in Smedley et al. Occult Sci.
292. Prometheus, in the play of that title by ’schylus (474), lays claim
to the invention of various kinds of divination, viz., oneirocriticks, or
the interpretation of dreams; ..symbolomancy, divination by object
occurring on the road; and pyromancy...
NOTES: Not in OED.