Standard Lemma guide

hippomancy

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Divination by the interpretation of the appearance and behaviour of horses. Their neighing and stamping are particularly noted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • 1713 Fabricii Bibliographia Antiquaria xii. Hippomantia ex hinnitu, fremitu, sudore..
  • 1911 Encyc. of Religion & Ethics There is also a trace of hippomancy in Persia. According to Herodotus (iii. 84-87), after Darius and six other Persian nobles had slain the pseudo-Smerdis, they agreed that he should be king whose horse should first neigh after sunrise, when they had mounted their steeds.
  • 1973 L. Watson Supernature ix. Precoginition means "knowing in advance," and systems of knowing cover just about every possible source of variation. They include..hippomancy (based on the stamping of horses)... None of these need be taken seriously...

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From hippo- + -mancy.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Italian: ippomanzia — Translations