geomance

English

Etymology

Back-formation from geomancy.

Verb

geomance (third-person singular simple present geomances, present participle geomancing, simple past and past participle geomanced)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To divine by geomancy.
   • 1997, Ping-Chiu Yen, Proverbs, Songs, Epic Narratives, Folktales of East Asia, page 209:

     In a broad sense, the Hero may be regarded as a shamanic figure with the capacity for geomancing. This idea can be compared with the concept of using a divining rod to find an underground water source.

   • 2000, Brad Olsen, Sacred Places: 101 Spiritual Sites Around the World, page 15:

     It is possible that stone arrangements acted as crystal acupuncture needles used to geomance the living Earth.

Middle English

Alternative forms

• geomanci
• geomancy
• geomansi
• geomansy
• geomanty
• geomensie
• geomensy
• geomensye
• geomese
• geomesie
• geomessie
• gemensye
• geemessye

Noun

geomance (uncountable)

1. geomancy
   • 1392 Gower CA 6.1295-8

     The craft which that Saturnus fond, To make prickes in the Sond, That Geomance cleped is, Fulofte he useth it amis; And of the flod his Ydromance, And of the fyr the Piromance, With questions echon of tho He tempteth ofte.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)