Cleromancy
/ˌklɛrəˈmænsi/noun
Divination by casting lots or using marked objects to obtain a random answer.
Did you know?Cleromancy was practiced in the ancient Mediterranean, and the same Greek root for “lot” also gave English words tied to allotment and inheritance, because chance once decided who got what.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
klēros
“a lot, share, or portion assigned by casting lots”
Ancient Greek
Greek
manteia
“divination or prophecy”
Late Greek / Hellenistic
Greek
klēromanteia
“divination by lots”
Late Latin
Latin
cleromantia
“divination by lots”
16th Century
English
cleromancy
“divination by casting lots”