Anthropomancy

/ˌænθrəpəˈmænsi/ noun

Definition

Divination or fortune-telling based on human sacrifice or observing the behavior and organs of humans.

Etymology

From Greek 'anthropos' (human) + 'manteia' (divination). This term refers to a practice found in ancient cultures where human suffering or death was interpreted as prophecy—one of history's darkest forms of divination.

Kelly Says

While most ancient cultures practiced animal sacrifice for divination, 'anthropomancy' shows that some societies took this horrifying practice further—Aztec and Roman historical texts describe interpreting human entrails to predict the future.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.