chartomancy

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek χάρτης (khártēs, “leaf of paper”) +‎ -mancy.

Noun

chartomancy (uncountable)

1. Divination by interpreting inscriptions on writing paper.
   • 1652 Gaule The Magastromancer xix.

     Chartomancy, by writing in papers […]

   • [1973, Walter B. Gibson, Litzka R. Gibson, The Complete Illustrated Book of Divination and Prophecy, London: Souvenir Press, published 1987, →ISBN, page 315:

     CHARTOMANCY: Divination by writing or interpreting inscriptions, sometimes of mysterious origin. Predictions written in invisible ink, which appears when papers are heated, come in this general category. So do greeting cards.]

Anagrams

• charactonym