geomance

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English

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Etymology

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Back-formation from geomancy.

Verb

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geomance (third-person singular simple present geomances, present participle geomancing, simple past and past participle geomanced)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To divine by geomancy.
    • 1997, Ping-Chiu Yen, Proverbs, Songs, Epic Narratives, Folktales of East Asia, page 209:
      In a broad sense, the Hero may be regarded as a shamanic figure with the capacity for geomancing. This idea can be compared with the concept of using a divining rod to find an underground water source.
    • 2000, Brad Olsen, Sacred Places: 101 Spiritual Sites Around the World, page 15:
      It is possible that stone arrangements acted as crystal acupuncture needles used to geomance the living Earth.

Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Noun

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geomance (uncountable)

  1. geomancy
    • 1392 Gower CA 6.1295-8
      The craft which that Saturnus fond, To make prickes in the Sond, That Geomance cleped is, Fulofte he useth it amis; And of the flod his Ydromance, And of the fyr the Piromance, With questions echon of tho He tempteth ofte.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)