Cledonomancy

Quick meaning: Cledonomancy is a noun meaning Divination through interpreting chance remarks or events.

Meaning

Divination through interpreting chance remarks or events.

Example Sentences

The consultant whispered his questions into the god's ear, then stopped his own ears, went out, and, when he got beyond the market-place, listened for chance words from passers-by. These were construed into an answer. This form of divination (cledonomancy) remained popular at all periods.

Pausanias (2nd century AD) gives an example of cledonomancy. A man was not sure whether to marry a young woman of his own clan or a rich woman of more exalted rank. While thinking over the problem, he heard a child at play with his fellows shout, 'Take care of yourself' which he at once understood to mean that he should marry the rich one!

Synonyms for cledonomancy

Depending on context, synonyms include cledonism.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include cledonism, clidomancy, cleromancy, cleidomancy, lychnomancy, licanomancy.

Related Dictionary Tools