Phyllomancy

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A form of divination involving the interpretation of leaves, which may be used by enthusiasts to predict events or insight into situations
2. The practice of foretelling the future by examining the patterns or movements of leaves, often linked with nature and spirituality
3. A method of divination that relies on analyzing leaves' shapes and arrangements, believed to reveal information about personal and future matters

Etymology: Phyllomancy is a plain compound built from two Greek elements. The first, "phyllo-", comes from Greek "phyllon", meaning "leaf", and it appears in many scientific and botanical terms. The second, "-mancy", comes from Greek "manteia", meaning "divination" or "prophecy," and it is the same ending found in words like "necromancy" and "chiromancy." Put together, the word names the practice of reading the shapes and arrangements of leaves as a way of learning about a person's private affairs or what lies ahead. The compound follows a pattern that English adopted in large numbers from Greek, using a classical root to name a specific technique. Because it is formed from familiar parts, its meaning can be read straight from its construction, with no shift in sense from an older use.

Synonyms: leaf divination, foliage fortune-telling