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axinomancy. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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English
Etymology
Latin axinomantia, from Ancient Greek ἀξινομαντεία (axinomanteía), from ἀξίνη (axínē, “axe”) and μαντεία (manteía, “prophecy”)
Noun
axinomancy (uncountable)
- (rare) Divination by saws or axes.
1610, Augustine, City of God:Diuination generally was done by diuers means […] by hatchets, Axinomancy
1855, Edward Smedley, The Occult Sciences:Axinomancy Was performed by balancing an axe on an upright stake, and the names of suspected persons being pronounced, it was supposed to point out the guilty by its motion.
1925, Arthur Bernard Cook, Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion, volume 2, page 702:Axinomancy, strictly so called, has varied somewhat in its modus operandi. A hatchet suspended by a cord was used to detect criminals or discover secrets: it twisted and turned in answer to relevant questions.
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