geomancy

American  

[jee-uh-man-see] / ˈdʒi əˌmæn si /

noun

1. divination by geographic features or by figures or lines.

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geomancy British  

/ ˈdʒiːəʊˌmænsɪ /

noun

1. prophecy from the pattern made when a handful of earth is cast down or dots are drawn at random and connected with lines

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Other Word Forms

• geomancer noun
• geomantic adjective

Etymology

Origin of geomancy

1325–75; Middle English < Old French geomancie ≪ Late Greek geōmanteía. See geo-, -mancy

Example Sentences

Feng shui is a traditional Chinese geomancy practice that is used to determine which location would be most auspicious.

From Reuters • Sep. 27, 2023

I now called to mind what I had read of certain colleges in old times, where judicial astrology, geomancy, necromancy, and other forbidden and magical sciences were taught.

From The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon by Irving, Washington

At this Barsum was confounded and the Emirs and bystanders said, "Verily, this King understandeth geomancy: blessed be He who hath gifted him!"

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 04 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

Moreover, before she died, my father said to her, 'Take thy tablets of geomancy and throw a figure, and tell us the issue of my affair and what will befal-me.'

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 04 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

This rude appliance was afterwards refined into the needle compass for guiding mariners on the sea, and assisting the professors of feng- shui or geomancy in their magic rites.

From The Story of Electricity by Munro, John