Crithomancy. World English Historical Dictionary

Crithomancy. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1893, rev. 2025. Crithomancy

[f. Gr. κρῑθή barley-corn + μαντεία divination (see -MANCY); cf. κρῑθόμαντις one who divined by barley.] Divination by meal strewed over animals sacrificed.

1

1652.  Gaule, Magastrom., 166. Crithomancy, [divining] by grain, or corn.

2

1884.  J. G. Bourke, Snake-Dance of Moquis, xv. 164–5. The use of this sacred meal closely resembles the crithomancy of the ancient Greeks.

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