chiromancy

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English ciromancie, from Middle French chiromantie, chiromancie, from Latin chīromantīa, from Ancient Greek χειρομαντεία (kheiromanteía), from χειρο- (kheiro-, hand-) + μαντεία (manteía, divination, fortune-telling). Equivalent to chiro- +‎ -mancy.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkaɪ.ɹə(ʊ).mæn.si/
  • Audio (UK):(file)
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkaɪ.ɹoʊ.mæn.si/
  • Hyphenation: chi‧ro‧man‧cy

Noun

chiromancy (usually uncountable, plural chiromancies)

  1. Synonym of palmistry: fortune-telling performed by reading another's hand.
    • 1620, J. Melton Astrologaster, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
      If they fore-tell things that shall happen by signes that they see in lines of a mans hand; then it is called Chyromancie...
    • 1995, C. Walker Encyc, Secret Knowledge:
      Modern palmistry differs from the ancient methods in concentrating on what is called chirognomy at the expense of chiromancy.

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References