rhapsodomancy

English

Etymology

From French rhapsodomancie, from Ancient Greek ῥαψῳδός (rhapsōidós) +‎ -mancy.

Noun

rhapsodomancy (uncountable)

1. Divination by reading a random passage from a poem.
   • 1723, Fabricii, Bibliographia Antiquaria xii:

     Rhapsodomantia sive divinatio ex rhapsodia aliqva poëtæ.

   • 1953, Gaynor (ed.), Dict. Mysticism

     Rhapsodomancy: A form of divination, based on a line in a sacred book or book of poetry which strikes the eye when the book is opened, or which is the last line to be pierced by a needle stuck through the closed book.

   • 1998, Deborah J. Bennett, Randomness, Harvard University Press, page 42:

     Using chance to arrive at a particular passage in the I Ching is a form of rhapsodomancy: the seeking of guidance through the chance selection of a passage in a literary work. Another early form of rhapsodomancy is represented by the sibylline books. [...]

Related terms

• bibliomancy