axinomancy

A1X8I1N1O1M3A1N1C3Y4

noun

Divination by saws or axes.

OriginLatin axinomantia ← Ancient Greek ἀξινομαντεία →
Scrabble 24
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounaxinomancy (uncountable)

alternative axiomancy

  1. rareuncountableDivination by saws or axes.

    Diuination generally was done by diuers means […] by hatchets, Axinomancy

    1610, Augustine, City of God
    2 more examples

    Axinomancy Was performed by balancing an axe on an upright stake, and the names of suspected persons being pronounced, it was supposed to point out the guilty by its motion.

    1855, Edward Smedley, The Occult Sciences

    Axinomancy, strictly so called, has varied somewhat in its modus operandi. A hatchet suspended by a cord was used to detect criminals or discover secrets: it twisted and turned in answer to relevant questions.

    1925, Arthur Bernard Cook, Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion, volume 2, page 702

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀξινομαντεία
  2. Latinaxinomantia
  3. Englishaxinomancy

Latin axinomantia, from Ancient Greek ἀξινομαντεία (axinomanteía), from ἀξίνη (axínē, “axe”) and μαντεία (manteía, “prophecy”)

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἀξινομαντεία
  • ἀξινομαντεία (axinomanteía)divination by axes
French axinomancie
  • axinomanciedivination by axes
German Axinomantie
  • Axinomantiedivination by axes
Greek αξινομαντεία
  • αξινομαντεία (axinomanteía)divination by axes
Irish tuadhraíocht
  • tuadhraíochtdivination by axes
Italian assinomanzia
  • assinomanziadivination by axes
Latin axinomantia
  • axinomantiadivination by axes
Polish wróżenie za pomocą siekiery
  • wróżenie za pomocą siekierydivination by axes
Russian гадание по бросаемым топорам
  • гадание по бросаемым топорам (gadanije po brosajemym toporam)divination by axes
Spanish axinomancia
  • axinomanciadivination by axes
Cite this entry
APA

axinomancy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/axinomancy

MLA

“axinomancy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/axinomancy. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “axinomancy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/axinomancy.

Source: axinomancy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.