divination
/,divi'neiʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- the art or gift of prophecy (or the pretense of prophecy) by supernatural means
- a prediction uttered under divine inspiration
- successful conjecture by unusual insight or good luck