Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
cold read en · NOUN
Meanings
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An act of cold reading.
This is an example of what magicians (and unfortunately phony psychics) call a "cold read".
Forms
cold read en · VERB
Meanings
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(transitive) To infer characteristics of (a person) using cold reading.
A few years ago Mort had barely been able to crawl out of his bottle long enough to cold-read credulous idiots into believing he could speak to their dead loved ones.
2006, Jim Butcher, Dead Beat, page 127:Fortune-tellers were derided as swindlers, their so-called services little better than a form of larceny. Incredulous journalists accused clairvoyants of faking their skills by cold-reading customers or surreptitiously monitoring local gossip that would help impress clients
2015, A Piper, “Women's work: The professionalisation and policing of fortune-telling in Australia”, in Labour History: A Journal of Labour and Social History:Select the person you will "cold read" ahead of time if possible. The more time you have to learn about your subject, the better.
2011, Dean Amory, Mind Reading - A Practical Introduction, page 70:
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(intransitive) To make inferences about a person using the practice of cold reading.
In spiritualism research, feedback is often used — this can be interpreted as giving the medium the chance to 'cold read'. However, feedback may be necessary […]
2004, The Paranormal Review, numbers 29-36, page 30:
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(intransitive, transitive) To perform (a script) without preparation.
At the audition you will be required to cold read a script.
Forms