Etymograph

English

alphitomancy

Alphitomancy comes from Ancient Greek ἀλφῐτόμαντις ‘diviner who used barley meal’.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀλφῐτόμαντιςalphĭtómantis‘diviner who used barley meal’
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1931alphitomancy

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἀλφῐτόμαντιςalphĭtómantis‘diviner who used barley meal’
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1931alphitomancy

Earliest quotation: 1931, Lock translating de Givry Picture Museum: “Aleuromancy and alphitomancy were almost analogous processes; cakes were…”

Every English word from Ancient Greek ἀλφῐτόμαντις

Today it means

noun An Ancient Greek method of divination using barley meal, used for instance to reveal guilty parties; it entailed feeding a person or group barley meal, and judging those who felt no effects to be innocent, while judging those who felt indigestion to be guilty.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἀλφῐτόμαντις / alphitomancy

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