psephomancyn.
/ˈsiːfə(ʊ)mansi/, /ˈsɛfə(ʊ)mansi/, U.S. /ˈsifoʊˌmænsi/ Chiefly historical.
Divination by drawing a number of small stones from a heap or vessel, the stones being previously marked with symbols which may be interpreted by the diviner; = pessomancy n. Cf. lithomancy n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > divination by natural phenomena > [noun] > by stones
lithomancy1646
psephomancy1727
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Psephomancy,..a Divination by Pebble-Stones, distinguished by certain Characters, and put as Lots into a Vessel; which, having made certain Supplications to the Gods to direct them, they drew out, and according to the Characters, conjectured what should happen to them.
1945 J. T. Shipley Dict. Word Origins (ed. 2) 240 The popularity of divination may be suggested by a partial list of its varieties: theomancy, by oracles (god);..psephomancy, by pebbles drawn from a heap; cataptromancy, by mirrors [etc.].
1975 Jrnl. Biblical Lit. 94 21 The recent discovery of psephomancy in Babylonian divination reminds us of the oracular lots called the Urim and Thummim in the OT.
1998 Jewish Q. Rev. 88 269 Some pronouncements in the initial part of the ritual..suggested to us that psephomancy, divination by stones, was an inferior form of divination used when haste was necessary and optimum conditions were unavailable.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1727