Standard Lemma guide

rhabdomancy

noun · 2 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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  • Received-Pronunciation, US: /ˈɹæb.dəˌmæn.si/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Divination with wands or rods, especially to use a divining rod to find things below the ground.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dowsing

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

searching for underground water or minerals by using a dowsing rod

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dowse, dowsing

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: divination, foretelling, soothsaying, fortune telling

History

Etymology

From rhabdo- + -mancy, first attested in 1646. From Latin rhabdomantīa, from Ancient Greek ῥαβδομαντεία (rhabdomanteía), from ῥάβδος (rhábdos, “rod”) + μαντεία (manteía, “divination”).

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: rabdomància — divination with wands and rods
  • German: Rhabdomantie — divination with wands and rods
  • German: Stabwahrsagerei — divination with wands and rods
  • Greek: ραβδομαντεία (ravdomanteía) — divination with wands and rods
  • Ancient Greek: ῥαβδομαντεία (rhabdomanteía) — divination with wands and rods
  • Italian: rabdomanzia — divination with wands and rods
  • Romanian: rabdomanție — divination with wands and rods
  • Spanish: rabdomancia — divination with wands and rods