chiromancy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, literary, technical (in occult contexts)
Quick answer
What does “chiromancy” mean?
The practice of telling fortunes and reading character from the lines and features of a person's hand.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice of telling fortunes and reading character from the lines and features of a person's hand; palmistry.
A form of divination or fortune-telling, often associated with the occult, mysticism, or esoteric traditions. It can refer to both the general practice and a specific instance of such fortune-telling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. 'Palmistry' is the more common term in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word has formal, archaic, or occult connotations. It may be used in historical, fantasy, or pseudo-scientific contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora, with slightly higher relative usage in British English historical or literary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “chiromancy” in a Sentence
[subject] practised chiromancyThe [noun] of chiromancya session of chiromancyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chiromancy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mystic claimed to chiromance with great accuracy, reading the lifeline and heartline.
American English
- She did not simply read palms; she chiromanced, interpreting every minor marking.
adverb
British English
- [Extremely rare; no standard usage]
American English
- [Extremely rare; no standard usage]
adjective
British English
- His chiromantic predictions were surprisingly detailed, based on the mounts of the palm.
American English
- The book contained a chiromantic chart correlating finger lengths with personality traits.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in historical, anthropological, or religious studies contexts to describe ancient or cultural practices.
Everyday
Extremely rare; 'palmistry' is the everyday term.
Technical
Used as the formal term within literature on divination, the occult, and esoteric traditions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chiromancy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chiromancy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chiromancy”
- Mispronunciation: /tʃɪrəʊmænsi/ (with a 'ch' as in 'chair') is incorrect. The correct initial sound is /k/ as in 'kite'.
- Misspelling: 'chiromancey', 'chiromansy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no difference in meaning. 'Chiromancy' is the formal, technical term derived from Greek, while 'palmistry' is the common, everyday English word.
No, chiromancy is considered a pseudoscience or a form of divination. It lacks empirical evidence and is not accepted by the scientific community.
Yes, but it is exceptionally rare and would only be understood in very specific, formal, or humorous contexts. 'To read palms' is the standard phrasing.
It comes from the Late Latin 'chiromantia', from Greek 'kheir' (hand) + 'manteia' (divination).
The practice of telling fortunes and reading character from the lines and features of a person's hand.
Chiromancy is usually formal, literary, technical (in occult contexts) in register.
Chiromancy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkaɪ.rəʊˌmæn.si/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkaɪ.roʊˌmæn.si/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly incorporate 'chiromancy']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CHIRO (as in 'chiropractor' for hands) + MANCY (as in 'necromancy' for divination) = Hand divination.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HAND IS A MAP/TEXT (The lines and shapes of the hand are a map of fate or a text to be read.)
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common, everyday synonym for 'chiromancy'?