cledonomancy
nounEtymology From Ancient Greek κληδών (klēdṓn, “an omen”) + -mancy.
1
Divination through interpreting chance remarks or events.
- The consultant whispered his questions into the god's ear, then stopped his own ears, went out, and, when he got beyond the market-place, listened for chance words from passers-by. These were construed into an answer. This form of divination (cledonomancy) remained popular at all periods.1911, Encyc. of Religion & Ethics:
- Pausanias (2nd century AD) gives an example of cledonomancy. A man was not sure whether to marry a young woman of his own clan or a rich woman of more exalted rank. While thinking over the problem, he heard a child at play with his fellows shout, 'Take care of yourself' which he at once understood to mean that he should marry the rich one!1970, B. I. Rakoczi, Man, Myth & Magic v.:
- Synonyms
- cledomancy, cledonism