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Webster 1913 Edition


Belomancy

Bel′o-manˊcy

,
Noun.
[Gr.
[GREEK]
;
[GREEK]
arrow +
[GREEK]
a diviner: cf. F.
bélomancie
.]
A kind of divination anciently practiced by means of marked arrows drawn at random from a bag or quiver, the marks on the arrows drawn being supposed to foreshow the future.
Encyc. Brit.

Webster 1828 Edition


Belomancy

BEL'OMANCY

,
Noun.
[Gr.an arrow, and divination.]
A kind of divination, practiced by the ancient Scythians, Babylonians, and other nations, and by the Arabians. A number of arrows, being marked, were put into a bag or quiver, and drawn out at random; and the marks or words on the arrow drawn determined what was to happen. See Ezek.21.21.

Definition 2024


belomancy

belomancy

English

Alternative forms

  • bellomancy
  • bolomancy

Noun

belomancy (uncountable)

  1. Studying the flight of arrows, an ancient form of divination used by the Greeks and Arabs.

See also

References

"For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots with his arrows..." -- Ezekiel 21:21, Bible
"Of this kinde of Rhabdomancy was that practised by Nabuchadonosor in the Chaldean miscellany, delivered by Ezekiel. A like way of Belomancy or Divination by Arrowes hath been in request with Scythians, Alanes, Germans, with the Africans and Turks of Algiers." -- Pseudodoxia Epidemica, Browne 1646