divination

[ div-uh-ney-shuhn ]

noun

1. the practice of attempting to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means.
2. augury; prophecy:

   The divination of the high priest was fulfilled.

3. perception by intuition; instinctive foresight.

divination

/ ˌdɪvɪˈneɪʃən; dɪˈvɪnətərɪ; -trɪ /

noun

1. the art, practice, or gift of discerning or discovering future events or unknown things, as though by supernatural powers
2. a prophecy
3. a presentiment or guess

Derived Forms

• divinatory, adjective

Other Words From

• di·vin·a·to·ry [dih-, vin, -, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of divination¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English divinacioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin dīvīnātiōn-, stem of dīvīnātiō, equivalent to dīvīnāt(us) “soothsaid” (past participle of dīvīnāre “to soothsay”; divine ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Judging from the torrent of polling divinations, spirited debate and reportage dedicated to the potential ballot choices of our sons, brothers, husbands and uncles, women’s voting trends must be stagnant or just simpler, right?

From Los Angeles Times

The ornate and carefully preserved drawings showcase the mysteries of medieval astrology as it intersected with medicine, divination and daily life in the Middle Ages.

From Los Angeles Times

The earliest versions of tarot decks weren’t even used as a form of divination.

From Los Angeles Times

He is playing digital divination, reaching for the stars with another narcissistic leap.

From Salon

The walls were covered in wooden cabinets full of her gran’s dried divination herbs and blessed candles.

From Literature