chiromancy

Definition

Synonym of palmistry: fortune-telling performed by reading another's hand.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English ciromancie, from Middle French chiromantie, chiromancie, from Latin chīromantīa, from Ancient Greek χειρομαντεία (kheiromanteía), from χειρο- (kheiro-, “hand-”) + μαντεία (manteía, “divination, fortune-telling”). Equivalent to chiro- + -mancy.

Example Sentences

• "If they fore-tell things that shall happen by signes that they see in lines of a mans hand; then it is called Chyromancie..."
• "Modern palmistry differs from the ancient methods in concentrating on what is called chirognomy at the expense of chiromancy."

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