cleromancy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowFormal, Literary, Technical/Esoteric
Quick answer
What does “cleromancy” mean?
Divination by casting or drawing lots.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Divination by casting or drawing lots.
A form of divination where the future or the answer to a question is sought through the random selection or casting of objects, such as stones, dice, bones, or marked sticks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. Potential minor orthographic preference for 'lots-casting' (BrE) vs. 'lot-casting' (AmE) in descriptive phrases, but the term itself is identical.
Connotations
Identical; perceived as an archaic, scholarly, or specialised occult term.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, used primarily in historical, anthropological, or esoteric contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cleromancy” in a Sentence
to practice cleromancycleromancy was used to + VERBdivination by cleromancythe cleromancy of + NOUN (e.g., the cleromancy of the ancients)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cleromancy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ancient priests would cleromance to ascertain the will of the gods before major undertakings.
- They sought to cleromance their way through the crisis, relying on chance rather than strategy.
American English
- The settlers cleromancied to decide who would get the best plots of land.
- He cleromancied with a set of runestones he kept in a velvet bag.
adverb
British English
- They decided cleromantically, drawing straws.
- The leader was chosen not by vote but cleromantically.
American English
- The board resolved the tie cleromantically, with a coin toss.
- He acted cleromantically, letting chance guide his every move.
adjective
British English
- The cleromantic ritual required three black and three white pebbles.
- Her approach was purely cleromantic, with no logical basis.
American English
- They followed a cleromantic procedure outlined in the old manuscript.
- The decision was made through a cleromantic draw.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, anthropological, religious studies, or classics papers discussing ancient divinatory practices.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would likely require explanation.
Technical
Used in esoteric, occult, or pagan communities to describe specific ritual practices.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cleromancy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cleromancy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cleromancy”
- Misspelling as 'cleromancey' or 'cleromance'.
- Confusing with 'necromancy' (divination by communication with the dead).
- Using it as a general term for any magic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleromancy is specifically defined by the use of randomly cast or drawn lots (like stones, sticks, dice) where the outcome is interpreted. Tarot, while using random card draws, relies on a complex symbolic system. All tarot reading involves a form of cleromancy, but not all cleromancy uses tarot.
Yes, in its simplest form. The coin toss is a modern, mundane example of a cleromantic act—using a random cast object (the coin) to decide between two outcomes.
It derives from the Greek words 'kleros' (κλῆρος), meaning 'lot', 'inheritance', or 'that which is assigned by lot', and 'manteia' (μαντεία), meaning 'prophecy' or 'divination'.
Yes, both in formalised systems within various modern pagan and esoteric traditions, and in informal ways like drawing straws or using decision-making dice. It is also studied academically as a historical practice.
Divination by casting or drawing lots.
Cleromancy is usually formal, literary, technical/esoteric in register.
Cleromancy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɪərəʊmænsi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklɪroʊmænsi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CLERK (sounds like 'cler-') in a dark MANCY (sounds like 'mancy') casting lots (like dice) to predict the future instead of doing paperwork.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE IS A HIDDEN OBJECT TO BE REVEALED BY CHANCE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of cleromancy?