rhabdomancy

rhabdomancy
rhabdomancy (n.) 1640s, "use of divining rod" (especially to discover ores or underground water), from Gk. rhabdos "rod, twig, stick" + manteia "divination, oracle" (see -MANCY (Cf. -mancy)). Gk. rhabdos is from PIE *werbh- (Cf. Lith. virbas "twig, branch, scion, rod," L. verbena "leaves and branches of laurel"), from root *werb- "to turn, bend" (see WARP (Cf. warp) (v.)).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Rhabdomancy — is a type of divination by means of any rod, wand, staff, stick, arrow, or the like. Specifically it has been used to describe various methods of divination, such as (a) setting staffs on end and watching where they fall, to divine the direction… …   Wikipedia

  • Rhabdomancy — Rhab do*man cy, n. Same as {Rabdomancy}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rhabdomancy — [rab′də man΄sē] n. [LL rhabdomantia < Gr rhabdomanteia < rhabdos, rod (see RHABDOCOELE) + manteia, divination (see MANCY)] divination by means of a rod or wand; esp., the art of seeking underground water or minerals by means of a divining… …   English World dictionary

  • rhabdomancy — Rabdomancy Rab do*man cy (r[a^]b d[ o]*m[a^]n s[y^]), n. [Gr. ra bdos rod + mancy.] Divination by means of rods or wands. [Written also {rhabdomancy}.] Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rhabdomancy — noun Etymology: Late Greek rhabdomanteia, from Greek rhabdos rod + manteia mancy Date: 1646 divination by rods or wands • rhabdomancer noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rhabdomancy — rhabdomantist, n. /rab deuh man see/, n. divination by means of a rod or wand, esp. in discovering ores, springs of water, etc. [1640 50; < LGk rhabdomanteía; see RHABDO , MANCY] * * * …   Universalium

  • rhabdomancy — noun /ˈræb.dəˌmæn.si/ Divination with a wand or rod; dowsing. Syn: dowsing See Also: rhabdom, rhabdomancer …   Wiktionary

  • RHABDOMANCY —    a species of divination by means of a hazel rod to trace the presence of minerals or metals under ground …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • rhabdomancy — divination using a rod or stick Divination and Fortune Telling …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • rhabdomancy — n. searching for underground water or mineral ores using a divining rod …   English contemporary dictionary

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