bibliomancy

[bib-lee-oh-man-see]

noun

divination by means of a book, especially the Bible, opened at random to some verse or passage, which is then interpreted.

Origin of bibliomancy

First recorded in 1745–55; biblio- + -mancy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bibliomancy

Historical Examples of bibliomancy

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

prediction of the future by interpreting a passage chosen at random from a book, esp the Bible

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

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.