Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Belomancy
Bel′o-manˊcy
,Noun.
[Gr.
[GREEK]
; [GREEK]
arrow + [GREEK]
a diviner: cf. F. bélomancie
.] A kind of divination anciently practiced by means of marked arrows drawn at random from a bag or quiver, the marks on the arrows drawn being supposed to foreshow the future.
Encyc. Brit.
Webster 1828 Edition
Belomancy
BEL'OMANCY
,Noun.
A kind of divination, practiced by the ancient Scythians, Babylonians, and other nations, and by the Arabians. A number of arrows, being marked, were put into a bag or quiver, and drawn out at random; and the marks or words on the arrow drawn determined what was to happen. See Ezek.21.21.
Definition 2024
belomancy
belomancy
English
Alternative forms
- bellomancy
- bolomancy
Noun
belomancy (uncountable)
- Studying the flight of arrows, an ancient form of divination used by the Greeks and Arabs.
See also
References
- "For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots with his arrows..." -- Ezekiel 21:21, Bible
- "Of this kinde of Rhabdomancy was that practised by Nabuchadonosor in the Chaldean miscellany, delivered by Ezekiel. A like way of Belomancy or Divination by Arrowes hath been in request with Scythians, Alanes, Germans, with the Africans and Turks of Algiers." -- Pseudodoxia Epidemica, Browne 1646