osteomancyn.
/ˈɒstɪə(ʊ)mansi/, U.S. /ˈɑstioʊˌmænsi/ Now rare.
Divination by means of bones. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > divination by natural phenomena > divination from bones > [noun]
osteomancy1612
1612 J. Selden in M. Drayton Poly-olbion v. Illustr. 85 When I haue more skill in Osteomantie, I will tell you.
1851 R. F. Burton Sindh 189 The science of Osteomancy is the Ilm el Aktaf (knowledge of the shoulder-blades).
1864 G. M. Hopkins Further Lett. (1938) 63 You are feeling in your bones that I shall not write..I will prove there is no truth in osteomancy.
1996 Times (Nexis) 20 Aug. Written communication in ancient China..progressed from osteomancy (the use of oracle bones to foretell events as an exclusive activity of diviners and kings) to a larger audience with inscriptions about great deeds on bronze vessels.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1612- terminal ballistics
- terminal bonus
- terminal building
- terminal button
- terminal case
- terminal degree
- terminal emulation
- terminal emulator
- terminal facilities
- terminal gate
- terminal guidance
- terminal juncture
- terminal market
- terminal moraine
- terminal nosedive
- terminal screw
- terminal staff
- terminal string
- terminal symbol
- terminal velocity
- terminalia
- terminalization
- terminalized
- terminally
- terminally ill