Definition

1. Noun:
   • The drawing up and interpretation of horoscopes: Horoscopy refers to the practice or art of constructing a horoscope (a chart representing the positions of the sun, moon, planets, and astrological aspects at a specific time, such as a person's birth) and then interpreting its supposed influence on that person's life and destiny.

Usage

• Horoscopy is typically used in the context of astrology. It is a formal or technical term for the process of creating and reading horoscopes.
• It is an uncountable noun, referring to the practice or art as a whole, not to individual instances.

Examples

• Noun:
  • She studied ancient texts on horoscopy to understand Babylonian astrological methods.
  • Modern horoscopy often involves complex software to calculate planetary positions accurately.

Advanced Usage

• "The horoscopy of the event": Refers to the astrological chart cast for the moment a significant event began, used to predict its outcome.
  • Historians examined the horoscopy of the coronation to see what the astrologers of the time had predicted.

Variants and Related Words

• Horoscope (n): The actual chart or diagram of celestial positions, or the popular forecast based on sun signs.
  • I read my daily horoscope in the newspaper.
• Horoscopic (adj): Relating to horoscopy or horoscopes.
  • The book explains horoscopic astrology in detail.

Synonyms

• Astrological forecasting: The prediction of events based on celestial observations.
• Nativity casting: Specifically refers to creating a birth chart.

Notes on Meaning

• Horoscopy is distinct from general astrology. While astrology is the broad study of celestial influences, horoscopy is the specific technical practice of chart calculation and interpretation, often for an individual.

Noun

1. the drawing up and interpretation of horoscopes