catoptromancy

English

Alternative forms

catoxtromancy, cattobomancy, cataptromancy, catoptromancie, catoptiomancy

Etymology

From the Ancient Greek roots κάτοπτρον (kátoptron, “mirror”) + μαντεία (manteía, “divination, -mancy”).

Noun

catoptromancy (uncountable)

  1. Divination by use of mirrors, or other reflective surfaces.
    Coordinate terms: crystallomancy, enoptromancy, scrying
    • 1660, Urquhart tr. Rabelais, Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv.
      Her Trippa going on in his Discourse, said by Catoptromancy, likewise held in such account by the Emperor Didius Julianus, That by means thereof, he ever and anon foresaw all that which at any time did happen or befal unto him: Thou shalt not need to put on thy Spectacles; for in a Mirror thou wilt see her as clearly and manifestly Nebrundiated, and Billibodring-it, as if I should shew it in the Fountain of the Temple of Minerva near Parras.
    • 1880, J. Grant, Mysteries of all Nations, section XLII:
      Catoptromancy was a species of divination performed by the aid of a mirror. This..was common among the Achaians.
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