oneirocrite

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ὀνειροκριτικός (oneirokritikós, “fit for interpreting dreams”), from ὄνειρος (óneiros, “dream”) + κριτικός (kritikós, “fit for judging”), from κριτής (kritḗs, “judge”).

Noun

oneirocrite (plural oneirocrites)

1. One skilled in oneirocrisy; an interpreter of dreams.
   • 1973, Leopold Sabourin, Studies in the History of Religions - Issue 25, page 92:

     Often these were obscure and had to be interpreted, the task of the oneirocrites, as the Greeks called such specialists among the priests.

   • 1991, The Second Century - Volume 8, page 107:

     On the contrary, he warned aspiring oneirocrites that "those who attribute . . . too much hidden meaning to dreams should be treated with contempt since they have no insight into the structure of a dream ..." (IV, 63 [P 286, 13-15]).

   • 2005, Raymond Buckland, The Spirit Book: The Encyclopedia of Clairvoyance, page 127:

     This guidance came in dreams which had to be interpreted by the oneirocrites.

Synonyms

• oneirocritic