Clairvoyance

/ˌklɛrˈvɔɪəns/ noun

Definition

The claimed supernatural ability to see events, places, or information that are beyond normal sight or hidden from view.

Etymology

From French clair 'clear' + voyance 'sight' (from voir 'to see,' Latin videre). The term was popularized during the 19th-century spiritualist movement in France and spread throughout the English-speaking world.

Kelly Says

The word 'clairvoyance' perfectly captures how spiritualists in the 1800s imagined supernatural powers—by simply combining French words for 'clear' and 'sight,' they created a term that sounds scientific and organized, which helped convince many people of its legitimacy.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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