divination

/ˈdɪvəˌneɪʃən/

/dɪvɪˈneɪʃən/

Other forms: divinations

The idea that you can see the future by supernatural means is called divination. When your friend tells your fortune by reading the tea leaves in your cup, she claims to have the power of divination.

The prediction or prophecy itself that's given through the act of fortune telling is also called divination. A psychic's divination that your aunt will soon start a family is much less impressive if your aunt is obviously pregnant. You can also use divination to refer to someone's unusual intuition, like a child who seems to know by divination when someone is feeling sad or upset.

Definitions of divination

1. noun

   the art or gift of prophecy (or the pretense of prophecy) by supernatural means
   synonyms: foretelling, fortune telling, soothsaying

   types:

   arithmancy

   divination by means of numbers

   dowse, dowsing, rhabdomancy

   searching for underground water or minerals by using a dowsing rod

   geomancy

   divination by means of signs connected with the earth (as points taken at random or the arrangement of particles thrown down at random or from the configuration of a region and its relation to another)

   hydromancy

   divination by water (as by patterns seen in the ebb and flow of the tides)

   lithomancy

   divination by means of stones or stone talismans

   necromancy

   conjuring up the dead, especially for prophesying

   oneiromancy

   divination through the interpretation of dreams

   onomancy

   divination by the letters of a name

   chiromancy, palm reading, palmistry

   telling fortunes by lines on the palm of the hand

   pyromancy

   divination by fire or flames

   type of:

   prognostication, prophecy, vaticination

   knowledge of the future (usually said to be obtained from a divine source)
2. noun

   a prediction uttered under divine inspiration
   synonyms: prophecy

   types:

   oracle

   a prophecy (usually obscure or allegorical) revealed by a priest or priestess; believed to be infallible

   type of:

   forecasting, foretelling, prediction, prognostication

   a statement made about the future
3. noun

   successful conjecture by unusual insight or good luck
   type of:

   conjecture, guess, hypothesis, speculation, supposition, surmisal, surmise

   a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence