rhabdomancy

[ rab-duh-man-see ]

noun

1. divination by means of a rod or wand, especially in discovering ores, springs of water, etc.

rhabdomancy

/ ˈræbdəˌmænsɪ /

noun

1. divination for water or mineral ore by means of a rod or wand; dowsing; divining

Derived Forms

• ˈrhabdoˌmantist, noun

Other Words From

• rhabdo·mantist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhabdomancy¹

1640–50; < Late Greek rhabdomanteía; rhabdo-, -mancy

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhabdomancy¹

C17: via Late Latin from Late Greek rhabdomanteia , from rhabdos a rod + manteia divination

Example Sentences

A more striking non-religious superstition, because people today still invest money in their mistaken belief, is water-witching, also variously known as dowsing, divining, or rhabdomancy.

From Salon

We find rhabdomancy a popular form of divination among the Greeks, and also among the Romans.

From Project Gutenberg

I refer to such organic forces as are popularly summed up under the words clairvoyance, mesmerism, rhabdomancy, animal magnetism, physical spiritualism.

From Project Gutenberg

What this strange art of rhabdomancy is I know not, but the "weeping" ash in our garden by the Coln is one of the most beautiful and shapely trees I ever saw.

From Project Gutenberg

But our village friend, though perhaps constructively right in his philosophizing, was certainly very defective in his acquaintance with the time-honoured art of rhabdomancy.

From Project Gutenberg