Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Divination

Divˊi-na′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
divinatio
, fr.
divinare
,
divinatum
, to foresee, foretell, fr.
divinus
: cf. F.
divination
. See
Divine
.]
1.
The act of divining; a foreseeing or foretelling of future events; the pretended art discovering secret or future by preternatural means.
There shall not be found among you any one that . . . useth
divination
, or an observer of times, or an enchanter.
Deut. xviii. 10.
☞ Among the ancient heathen philosophers natural divination was supposed to be effected by a divine afflatus; artificial divination by certain rites, omens, or appearances, as the flight of birds, entrails of animals, etc.
2.
An indication of what is future or secret; augury omen; conjectural presage; prediction.
Birds which do give a happy
divination
of things to come.
Sir T. North.

Webster 1828 Edition


Divination

DIVINATION

,
Noun.
[L., to foretell. See Divine.]
1.
The act of divining; a foretelling future events, or discovering things secret or obscure, by the aid of superior beings, or by other than human means. The ancient heathen philosophers divided divination into two kinds, natural and artificial. Natural divination was supposed to be effected by a kind of inspiration or divine afflatus; artificial divination was effected by certain rites, experiments or observations, as by sacrifices, cakes, flour, wine, observation of entrails, flight of birds, lots, verses, omens, position of the stars, &c.
2.
Conjectural presage; prediction.

Definition 2024


divination

divination

English

Noun

divination (countable and uncountable, plural divinations)

  1. (uncountable) The act of divining; a foreseeing or foretelling of future events.
  2. The apparent art of discovering secrets or the future by preternatural means.
  3. (countable) An indication of what is future or secret; augury omen; conjectural presage; prediction.

Hyponyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:divination

Derived terms

  • star divination

Related terms

Translations

See also


French

Noun

divination f (plural divinations)

  1. divination

Middle French

Noun

divination f (plural divinations)

  1. divination (act of divining)

Related terms