hepatoscopy

[ hep-uh-tos-kuh-pee ]

noun

, plural hep·a·tos·co·pies.

1. medical examination of the liver.
2. examination of the livers of sacrificed animals as a technique of divination.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hepatoscopy¹

First recorded in 1720–30; hepato- + -scopy

Example Sentences

Compared with Hepatoscopy, Astrology not only represents a form of divination that might be designated as semi-scientific—only relatively scientific of course—but also occupies a higher plane, because there was no attempt involved to induce a deity unfavorably disposed to change his mind.

From Project Gutenberg

In the case of Hepatoscopy, we find the underlying theory to have been the identification of the ‘soul’ or vital centre of the sacrificial victim—always a sheep—with the deity to whom the animal is offered,—at least to the extent that the two souls are attuned to one another.

From Project Gutenberg

The observation of signs observed in young animals and in infants at the time of birth constitutes a third division of Babylonian-Assyrian divination, quite equal in prominence to Hepatoscopy and Astrology.

From Project Gutenberg

Hepatoscopy and Birth-omens thus followed the same course in passing from the distant East to the West.

From Project Gutenberg

Hepatoscopy thus became, among the Babylonians, of extraordinary complexity, and the organ of the sheep was studied and figured as early as 3000 B.C.

From Project Gutenberg