ptarmoscopy
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Ancient Greek πταρμός (ptarmós, “sneeze”) + -scopy
Noun[edit]
ptarmoscopy (uncountable)
- (very rare) The divinatory interpretation of sneezes.
- Hypernym: divination
- 1901, Maria Ward Brown, The life of Dan Rice[1], page 352:
- He divined by Metascopy, the lines in the forehead; […] by Ptarmoscopy, sneezing; […]
- 2005, Robert J. Rabel, Approaches to Homer, Ancient and Modern, page xiii:
- A catalogue of ancient sneezes and sneeze-interpretation (ptarmoscopy) is also provided.
- 2007, D. Nutt, The Classical Review, Issue 1[2]:
- […] , 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.