English
alectryomancy
Alectryomancy comes from Latin alectryomantia, from Ancient Greek ἀλεκτρυών ‘rooster’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- ‘to defend, to protect’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂lek-‘to defend, to protect’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*aléksō‘to protect’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓λέξω‘to ward off’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓λέκτωρ‘cock, rooster’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀλεκτρυώνalektruṓn‘rooster’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalectryomantia
- Englishtodayalectryomancy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂lek-‘to defend, to protect’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*aléksō‘to protect’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓λέξω‘to ward off’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓λέκτωρ‘cock, rooster’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀλεκτρυώνalektruṓn‘rooster’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalectryomantia
- Englishtodayalectryomancy
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- ‘to defend, to protect’
Today it means
noun A form of divination in which the diviner observes a bird or birds (preferably a white rooster or cockerel) pecking at grain that the diviner has scattered on the ground.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- / alectryomancy