molybdomancy

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek μόλυβδος (mólubdos, “lead”) and the suffix -mancy. Probably after Greek μολυβδομαντεία (molyvdomanteía) or French molybdomancie.

Noun

molybdomancy (uncountable)

1. divination by interpreting shapes formed when molten metal, typically lead or tin, is dropped into water.
   • 1727, Bailey, The Universal Etym. Eng. Dict.

     MOLUBDOMANCY [molybdomanteia of molybdos Lead, and manteia Divination, Gr.] a divining, an observing the motions, Figures, &c. of melted Lead.

   • 1931, de Givry, Lock tr., Picture Museum of Sorcery

     Molybdomancy was divination by melted lead; drops of it were allowed to fall into water, and the resulting noises and hissings listened to.

   • 1957, Robert Plank, “Spontaneous Projection of Meaningful Forms”, in Journal of Projective Techniques‎^[1], page 146:

     The place of molybdomancy is also to be located in the uncertain border area between spontaneous and solicited projection.

   • 1971 January, Tak Hallus, “Homage”, in Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact‎^[2], page 67:

     There was a happy group in Tallahassee swapping wives on the basis of molybdomancy.

   • 2003, Raymond Buckland, The Fortune-Telling Book‎^[3], page 199:

     Dropping hot lead or tin into water was another method occasionally employed by the Etruscans in a version of molybdomancy, much like ceromancy.

Translations

divination by molten metal dropped in water

• Finnish: tinanvalanta
• French: molybdomancie (fr)
• German: Bleigießen (de) n
• Latin: molybdomantia