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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition

Gerhard Dorn and John French

A Chymical Dictionary

An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language

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A Chymical DictionaryDivinatio

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English Edition · Branch 610 of 740

Divinatio

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 610

Divinatio

Spirits celestial influences and signs · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A general term for foretelling.

In the book. Hydromancy concerns signs associated with water; Pyromancy concerns fire; Edelphus names someone who prognosticates through the nature of the elements.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 19; facsimile PDF page 347.

Historical Definition

Divinatio is prophesying or foretelling.

Meaning

The entry gives a broad activity without naming the medium from which a prediction is drawn. It therefore differs in scope from the dictionary’s more particular arts of presaging. Nothing here identifies a ritual, instrument or class of practitioner.

Use in the Book

Hydromancy concerns signs associated with water; Pyromancy concerns fire; Edelphus names someone who prognosticates through the nature of the elements. These distinctions can help a reader move from the general activity to a particular historical account of how foretelling is said to occur.

Places to Read

Edelphus. A practitioner of foretelling by the elements.

Hydromancy. Foretelling through manifestations associated with water.

Pyromancy. Divination through the signs of fire.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 19; facsimile PDF page 347 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary 1650, s.v. Divinatio

See also. Edelphus; Hydromancy; Pyromancy

610

About This Reading Edition

The complete 706 historical definitions of the 1650 English dictionary, modernised and accompanied by expanded Diotimos commentary, reading routes, 15 textual notes and complete linked indexes.

Historical Text

A Chymicall Dictionary, London 1650, English version associated with John French, based on Gerhard Dorn’s Dictionarium Theophrasti Paracelsi. The containing volume also prints Sendivogius and Paracelsus; neither neighboring work changes this dictionary’s attribution.

About This Edition

Complete 706 definition paragraphs with new introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes; Diotimos Editions, 2026.

Rights

The historical 1650 English text is in the public domain. New introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes are © 2026 Diotimos Editions and published with the site owner’s authorization.