-mancy, -mancer, -mantic, -mantical
(Greek: used as a suffix; divination, prophecy, fortune telling; to interpret signs so “practical” decisions can be made [related to -mania])
It isn't so much the things we don't know that gets us into trouble. It's the things we know that aren't so.
If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet.
- Wine that is spilled on cloth or paper and the resulting stains studied.
- Observing the sediment in the bottom of a glass or bottle of wine.
- The examination of the physical characteristics (color, taste, etc.) of wine.
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2. Divination by observing fingernails or olive oil on the finger nails of an “unpolluted boy” or a young female virgin.
These symbols are interpreted in accordance with established rules, as with crystal gazing or teacup reading.
2. Divination using proper names based on a subject's given name, popular in the Late Middle Ages.
This has become an aspect of cheiromancy.
One modern method consists of dropping whites of eggs in water and noting the shapes or markings thus obtained. The custom of coloring eggs, so popular today, also stems from ancient traditions.
The first incident is mentioned in the Garden of Eden and has been known to be utilized in Egypt, Greece, Rome, and among the Aztecs of Mexico.
2. Divination by means of serpents or the use of serpents to foretell the future or to divine the past.Such divination included birds' flights and songs; however, any action of the bird could have been interpreted as a method of foreseeing or foretelling, or could have been interpreted as a message from the gods.
Cross references of word families that are related directly, or indirectly, to: "divination, diviner; seer, soothsayer, prophecy, prophesy, prophet": augur-; auspic-; fa-, fate; Fates in action; futur-; omen; -phemia; sorc-, sorcery; vati-.
A cross reference of other word family units that are related directly, or indirectly, to: "chance, luck, fate": aleato-; auspic-; cad-; fortu-; serendipity; sorc; temer-; tycho-.