rhapsodomancy
English
Etymology
From French rhapsodomancie, from Ancient Greek ῥαψῳδός (rhapsōidós) + -mancy.
Noun
rhapsodomancy (uncountable)
- Divination by reading a random passage from a poem.
- "Rhapsodomantia sive divinatio ex rhapsodia aliqva poëtæ" -- Bibliographia Antiquaria xii, Fabricii, 1713
- "Rhapsodomancy: A form of divination, based on a line in a sacred book or book of poetry which strikes the eye when the book is opened, or which is the last line to be pierced by a needle stuck through the closed book." -- Dict. Mysticism, Gaynor (ed.), 1953
Related terms
- bibliomancy