alphitomancy

[ al-fit-uh-man-see ]

noun

1. the use of barley meal as a means of divination.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alphitomancy¹

1645–55; < Greek álphito ( n ) barley + -mancy, probably influenced by Greek alphitómantis one who divines from barley meal

Example Sentences

Alphitomancy, by meal, flour, or bran.

From Project Gutenberg

By alphitomancy, cried up by Theocritus in his Pharmaceutria.

From Project Gutenberg