sortilege

[ sawr-tl-ij ]

noun

1. the drawing of lots for divination; divination by lot.
2. sorcery; magic.

sortilege

/ ˈsɔːtɪlɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act or practice of divination by drawing lots
2. magic or sorcery

Other Words From

• sor·ti·leg·ic [sawr-tl-, ej, -ik], sor·ti·le·gious [sawr-tl-, ee, -j, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sortilege¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin sortilegium, for Latin sortilegus, equivalent to sort- (stem of sors ) lot, chance + -i- -i- + -legus (derivative of legere to read, count, choose out); -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of sortilege¹

C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin sortilegium, from Latin sortilegus a soothsayer, from sors fate + legere to select

Example Sentences

From various sources of information we know that the Druids had recourse to sortilege by fire.

From Project Gutenberg

On the same occasions, the will of the gods was ascertained by the casting of lot or other processes of sortilege.

From Project Gutenberg

Sortilege was one of the things which Wesley learned from the devout Moravians.

From Project Gutenberg

And strangely enough it resembled the state of mind of a man who fears disenchantment more than sortilege.

From Project Gutenberg

This narrative, of combined bibliomancy and sortilege, is a curious one, but let it pass.

From Project Gutenberg