pyromancy
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- pyromancer noun
- pyromantic adjective
Etymology
Origin of pyromancy
1325–75; Middle English piromancie < Medieval Latin pyromantīa < Greek pyromanteía divination by fire. See pyro-, -mancy
Explanation
Pyromancy is the act of attempting to tell the future using fire. Some people believe that ancient Greeks performed pyromancy. Don't dabble in pyromancy if you know what's good for you. Pyromancy is a very old fashioned kind of divination, or fortune telling. While pyromancy comes up most often in myths and fantasy novels, as well as computer games, it was actually on a list of "forbidden arts" during the Renaissance. The method of pyromancy varies, but it mainly involves seeing shapes within a flame and using them to predict future events. In Greek, pyros means "fire," and manteia means "divination."
Vocabulary lists containing pyromancy
Elements of the Universe: Pyr, Pyro ("Fire")
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Amari and the Night Brothers
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ign and pyr
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
My Knight build has slowly drifted towards some pyromancy and a touch of sorcery.
From Forbes • Jun. 1, 2012
Astragalomancy and all the different lettered dice seemed fun, but she wasn't interested in pyromancy and playing with fire messages.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
A German writer of the fifteenth century takes a less favourable view of what he calls pyromancy, although pyromancy is really divination by fire.
From Storyology Essays in Folk-Lore, Sea-Lore, and Plant-Lore by Taylor, Benjamin
The eighth is entituled pyromancy; that is, when it instructs people by forms appearing in the fire.
From The History of the Life and Adventures of Mr. Duncan Campell A Gentlen, who, tho' Deaf and Dumb, Writes down any Stranger's name at first Sight; by Defoe, Daniel
As for magic, necromancy, pyromancy, geomancy, coscinomancy, and all the other mancies—there was then a whole literature about them.
From Historical Lectures and Essays by Kingsley, Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
