Definition

1. Noun:
   • The practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means: "Divination" refers to the art, skill, or act of foretelling future events or discovering hidden knowledge through omens, oracles, rituals, or other supernatural methods.
   • A prediction or prophecy made through such means: "Divination" can also refer to the specific message, forecast, or revelation obtained through a divinatory practice.
   • A remarkably accurate guess or insight: In a more general sense, "divination" can describe a successful conjecture or an instance of keen intuitive understanding, as if by luck or unusual insight.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The ancient priestess was renowned for her skill in divination.
  • His divination about the market crash, made without any data, proved uncannily accurate.
  • They consulted the stars for divination of the kingdom's fate.

Advanced Usage

• "To practice divination": to engage in the art of foretelling the future.
  • In some cultures, it is forbidden to practice divination.
• "A method/technique of divination": a specific procedure used for forecasting.
  • Reading tea leaves is a traditional method of divination.

Variants and Related Words

• Divine (verb): To discover or guess through intuition or insight; also, to practice divination.
  • She could divine his intentions from a single glance.
• Diviner (noun): A person who practices divination; a soothsayer.
  • The village diviner was consulted before important journeys.
• Divinatory (adjective): Relating to or used in divination.
  • They used divinatory tools like tarot cards.

Synonyms

• Prophecy: A prediction of the future, often inspired by divine power.
• Soothsaying: The practice of foretelling events.
• Augury: The interpretation of omens to predict the future.
• Forecasting: The activity of predicting future events (more general, not necessarily supernatural).

Related Phrases

• "Haruspicy / hepatoscopy": A form of divination by inspecting the entrails of sacrificed animals.
• "Oneiromancy": Divination through the interpretation of dreams.
• "Cleromancy": Divination by casting lots or dice.

Idioms and Expressions

• "A stroke of divination": An instance of seemingly inspired or lucky guessing.
  • It was a stroke of divination that led him to buy the winning lottery ticket.

Noun

1. the art or gift of prophecy (or the pretense of prophecy) by supernatural means
2. a prediction uttered under divine inspiration
3. successful conjecture by unusual insight or good luck