English
catoptromancy
Catoptromancy comes from Ancient Greek κάτοπτρον ‘mirror’, from καθοράω ‘to behold’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wer- ‘to watch, guard’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wer-‘to watch, guard’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὁράω‘to look with the eyes’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκαθοράωkathoráō‘to behold’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκάτοπτρονkátoptron‘mirror’
- Englishearliest quotation 1880catoptromancy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wer-‘to watch, guard’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὁράω‘to look with the eyes’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκαθοράωkathoráō‘to behold’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκάτοπτρονkátoptron‘mirror’
- Englishearliest quotation 1880catoptromancy
Earliest quotation: 1880, J. Grant, Mysteries of all Nations: “Catoptromancy was a species of divination performed by the…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *wer- ‘to watch, guard’
wear, guard, ward, regard, con, garage, warn, worm, beware, garrison, verge, ware, weir, optic, reverence, revere, vermin, wry, vermilion, prosaic, guaranty, milliner, varmint, vermicelli, vermeil, vermiculite, 67 more
through Ancient Greek ὁράω ‘to look with the eyes’
Today it means
noun Divination by use of mirrors, or other reflective surfaces.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *wer- / catoptromancy