-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.

—Artemus Ward (1834-1867)

If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet.

—Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991),
Polish-born American journalist, writer.
orthinomancy
Divination with birds in flight; birds are also involved with orniscopy, ornithoscopy, and ornomancy.
oryctomancy
Divination from things dug up.
ossomancy, osteomancy
Divination with bones.
ouranomancy
Divination by observing the heavens.
pedomancy, podomancy
Divination by observing and analyzing the soles or bottoms of the feet that can be interpreted in terms of lines and mounts, exactly as in cheiromancy or palmistry, but to a greatly limited degree.

This mode of divination is of great antiquity in the Orient, particularly among the Chinese.

pegomancy
Divination by observing the way air bubbles are rising in springs or fountains; dropping stones in sacred pools, or springs, and observing their movements.

Shapes formed by the swirl of a spring or the play of a fountain were also given appropriate interpretations.

pessomancy (apparent misspelling of psephomancy)
Divination with pebbles or beans marked with symbols and colors relating to health, communications, success, travel, etc.

The stones were either thrown out after mixing in a bag or drawn out at random. The same system may be used with colored marbles, giving each type a special interpretation and drawing one from a bag.

petchimancy
Divination by observing the results of brushed clothes.
phyllomancy
Divination with leaves.
phyllorhodomancy
Divination by clapping rose leaves against the side of the hand and noting the sounds that they made; used for divination by ancient Greeks.
physiognomancy
Divination by observing the facial expressions of a subject and interpreting forms, lines, etc. of the face.
plastromancy
An ancient Chinese form of divination using turtle shells.
pneumancy
Divination by interpreting air, wind, or the lungs; by blowing [especially by blowing out a candle].

It exists today in the act of blowing out the candles on a [festival] birthday cake.

podomancy, pedoscopy
Divination (fortune telling) from the interpretations of signs derived by examining the feet.
praying mantis (s) (noun); praying mantises, praying mantes (pl)
1. An insect of the order Mantodea, named for their "prayer-like" stance and so meaning "praying prophet" or "praying diviner".
2. Etymology: mantis comes from the Greek word Mantes for "prophet" or "fortune teller".

It is estimated that there are about 2,300 species of praying mantids world-wide; most are tropical or subtropical, but several species live in temperate climates; such as, that of the northern United States, central Europe, and Siberia.

Some texts refer to the European mantis, or Mantis religiosa, as the most common praying mantis in European countries.

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-.