axinomancy en · NOUN
Etymology
Latin axinomantia, from Ancient Greek ἀξινομαντεία (axinomanteía), from ἀξίνη (axínē, “axe”) and μαντεία (manteía, “prophecy”)
Meanings
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(rare, uncountable) Divination by saws or axes.
Axinomancy Was performed by balancing an axe on an upright stake, and the names of suspected persons being pronounced, it was supposed to point out the guilty by its motion.
1855, Edward Smedley, The Occult Sciences:Axinomancy, strictly so called, has varied somewhat in its modus operandi. A hatchet suspended by a cord was used to detect criminals or discover secrets: it twisted and turned in answer to relevant questions.
1925, Arthur Bernard Cook, Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion, volume 2, page 702:Diuination generally was done by diuers means […] by hatchets, Axinomancy
1610, Augustine, City of God:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| axiomancy | alternative | lexicographic |
Translations (10)
ga tuadhraíocht (divination by axes) · it assinomanzia (divination by axes) · fr axinomancie (divination by axes) · grc ἀξινομαντεία (divination by axes) · ru гадание по бросаемым топорам (divination by axes) · de Axinomantie (divination by axes) · es axinomancia (divination by axes) · pl wróżenie za pomocą siekiery (divination by axes) · el αξινομαντεία (divination by axes) · la axinomantia (divination by axes)