ptarmoscopy

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noun

The divinatory interpretation of sneezes.

OriginAncient Greek πταρμός →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

nounptarmoscopy (uncountable)
  1. rareuncountableThe divinatory interpretation of sneezes.

    A catalogue of ancient sneezes and sneeze-interpretation (ptarmoscopy) is also provided.

    2005, Robert J. Rabel, Approaches to Homer, Ancient and Modern, page xiii
    2 more examples

    He divined by Metascopy, the lines in the forehead; […] by Ptarmoscopy, sneezing; […]

    1901, Maria Ward Brown, The life of Dan Rice, page 352

    […], linking this action with her earlier laugh at Telemachus' sneeze (17.541-50) and the mantic qualities of such involuntary movements, as revealed by later examples of 'ptarmoscopy' in ancient literature.

    2007, D. Nutt, The Classical Review, Issue 1

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekπταρμός“sneeze”
  2. Englishptarmoscopy

From Ancient Greek πταρμός (ptarmós, “sneeze”) + -scopy.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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