From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordA general term for foretelling.
- In the bookHydromancy concerns signs associated with water; Pyromancy concerns fire; Edelphus names someone who prognosticates through the nature of the elements.
- A place to readThe 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
- DivinatioRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- EdelphusA practitioner of foretelling by the elements.
- HydromancyForetelling through manifestations associated with water.
- PyromancyDivination through the signs of fire.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 19; facsimile PDF page 347 — Facsimile