rhabdomancy

From rhabdo- +‎ -mancy, first attested in 1646. From Latin rhabdomantīa, from Ancient Greek ῥαβδομαντεία (rhabdomanteía), from ῥάβδος (rhábdos, “rod”) + μαντεία (manteía, “divination”).

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ˈɹæb.dəˌmæn.si/

• Audio (US):

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rhabdomancy (uncountable)

1. Divination with wands or rods, especially to use a divining rod to find things below the ground.

   Synonym: dowsing

   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 145:

     This question of buried treasure exercised the minds of ancient occultists considerably, and in connection with it there was frequently employed the art of Rhabdomancy, which was similar to that of water divining or water "dousing".

• rhabdom
• rhabdomancer
• rhabdomantist