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bibliomancy

[bib-lee-oh-man-see]
noun
  1. divination by means of a book, especially the Bible, opened at random to some verse or passage, which is then interpreted.
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Origin of bibliomancy

First recorded in 1745–55; biblio- + -mancy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bibliomancy

Historical Examples

  • Bibliomancy, divining by means of the Bible, survived to a comparatively recent period.

    Witch, Warlock, and Magician

    William Henry Davenport Adams

British Dictionary definitions for bibliomancy

bibliomancy

noun
  1. prediction of the future by interpreting a passage chosen at random from a book, esp the Bible
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for bibliomancy

n.

1753, "divination by opening a book (especially the Bible) at random," the first verse presenting itself being taken as a prognostication of future events, from biblio- + -mancy. In pagan times, Homer (sortes Homericae) and Virgil (sortes Virgilianae) were used.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper