palmistry

[pah-muh-stree]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR palmistry ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the art or practice of telling fortunes and interpreting character from the lines and configurations of the palm of a person's hand.

Origin of palmistry

1375–1425; late Middle English pawmestry, equivalent to pawm palm¹ + -estry (origin obscure; cf. -y³)

Also called palm reading.

Related formspalm·ist, noun

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

Related Words for palmistry

guess, indicator, forecast, prognosis, prophecy, conjecture, hunch, horoscope, dope, augury, tip, divination, foresight, cast, prognostication, vaticination, presage, soothsaying, omen, prevision

Examples from the Web for palmistry

Contemporary Examples of palmistry

All you need is a competent plastic surgeon with an electric scalpel who has a basic knowledge of palmistry.
Your Future Is in the Palm of Your (Surgeon’s) Hand
Jake Adelstein, Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky
July 12, 2013

Historical Examples of palmistry

Afterwards she told his fortune by cards and he told hers by palmistry.
The Twelfth Hour
Ada Leverson
I am talking as if palmistry was a daily study with me, but that is not so.
The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Kainokku or palmistry, in which the women are more proficient than the men.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India
Edgar Thurston
They started on palmistry, and Jeremy enjoyed himself immensely.
Double Harness
Anthony Hope
I have since thought the question may have been confused with palmistry.
Dactylography
Henry Faulds

British Dictionary definitions for palmistry

palmistry

noun

the process or art of interpreting character, telling fortunes, etc, by the configuration of lines, marks, and bumps on a person's handAlso called: chiromancy

Derived Formspalmist, noun

Word Origin for palmistry

C15 pawmestry, from paume palm 1; the second element is unexplained

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 palmistry

"divination from the palm of the hand," early 15c., from palme (see palm (n.1)) + obscure second element, perhaps -estre (as in Middle English webbestre "weaver") or -rie (as in Middle English archerie "archery"). Palmist (n.) is an 1886 back-formation.