Roman augurers made prophecies by observing birds in flight; an augury can be any kind of divination, usually based upon signs in nature.
Divination that ranks a set of given possibilities. It can be qualitative (such as shapes, proximities, etc.) Dowsing (a form of rhabdomancy) developed from this type of divination. The Romans in classical times used Etruscan methods of augury such as hepatoscopy (actually a form of extispicy). Haruspices examined the livers of sacrificed animals.
The general art of " divination", encompassing several different methods of forecasting future events.
Another term for divination.
is the general term for the art of divination and is chiefly applied to interpretations of signs and omens.
Divination from omens and signs.
the study of omens to foretell or divine the future.
divination; foretelling the future through the study of signs or omens.
Often used synonymously with divination to mean the interpretation of signs and omens. More accurately, it is divination based on the appearance or behavior of animals. Includes: Alectryomancy (chickens); Arachnomancy (spiders); Entomomancy (insects); Hippomancy (horses) Ichthyomancy (fish); Myomancy (mice); Ophiomancy (snakes); Zoomancy (any animal); Haruspicy (interpreting animal entrails) is sometimes consider augury.
Divination. Last updated:March 8, 2006