Clairvoyance
/ˌklɛərˈvɔɪəns/noun
The supposed ability to perceive events, objects, or information beyond ordinary sensory experience.
Did you know?The term became strongly associated with 19th-century spiritualism and psychical research, where clairvoyants claimed to perceive hidden or distant events.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weyd-
“To see or know; the ancient root behind Latin videre and English vision-related vocabulary.”
Classical Latin
Latin
clārus
“Clear, bright, distinct, or renowned; the source of French clair.”
Classical Latin
Latin
vidēre
“To see; the source of French voir and the second idea in clairvoyance.”
Old French
Old French
cler
“Clear or bright; later developing into modern French clair.”
19th Century
French
clairvoyance
“Literally “clear seeing,” used for alleged perception beyond ordinary sight.”
19th Century
English
clairvoyance
“A borrowed term for supposed extrasensory perception, especially popular in spiritualist and psychical-research circles.”