Catoptromancy

Alternative forms

• catoxtromancy
• cattobomancy
• cataptromancy
• catoptromancie
• catoptiomancy

Origin

From the Ancient Greek roots κάτοπτρον ("mirror") + μαντεία ("divination, -mancy").

Full definition of catoptromancy

Noun

1. Divination by use of mirrors, or other reflective surfaces. Similar to crystallomancy, dubjed, enoptromancy and scrying.
• 1660, Urquhart tr. Rabelais, Gargantua & Pantagruel iii. xxv.Her Trippa going on in his Discourse, said by Catoptromancy, likewise held in such account by the Emperor Didius Julianus, That by means thereof, he ever and anon foresaw all that which at any time did happen or befal unto him: Thou shalt not need to put on thy Spectacles; for in a Mirror thou wilt see her as clearly and manifestly Nebrundiated, and Billibodring-it, as if I should shew it in the Fountain of the Temple of Minerva near Parras.
• 1880, J. Grant, Mysteries of all Nations, xliiCatoptromancy was a species of divination performed by the aid of a mirror. This..was common among the Achaians.