• Astragyromancy

    Origin

    Possibly a joining of astragalomancy and gyromancy (spinning of the dice).

    Full definition of astragyromancy

    Noun

    astragyromancy

    (uncountable)
    1. Divination by dice.
      • 1970, Richard Cavendish, Man, Myth & Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Supernatural, Known as astragalomancy or astragyromancy, this method is supposed, righdy or wrongly, to make clear to man the designs of providence, the will of the gods, the decrees of fate.
      • 1973, Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy, ASTRAGALOMANCY or ASTRAGYROMANCY: Divination with dice, ranging from crude bones with primitive markings to cubes bearing spots, letters, or cabalistic symbols, all interpreted by the bone caster.
      • 1992, Max Maven, Max Maven's book of fortunetelling, This is an extremely simple form of sortilege related to astragalomancy or astragyromancy (from the Greek astragalos, meaning "vertebra, knucklebone"), which began about 5,000 years ago.

    Further reading

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