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Glite Dictionary
rhabdomancer

rhabdomancer

9.9
A person who uses a stick to find underground water or minerals
  • noun
  • /ˈræbdoʊˌmænsər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : rabdomante
  • The rhabdomancer found a water source near the old oak tree.

Examples

  • During the drought, villagers hired a rhabdomancer to search for underground water sources.

  • Skeptics argued that the rhabdomancer's abilities were based more on luck than science.

  • The rhabdomancer claimed he could locate a hidden well beneath the old farmhouse.

  • Many rhabdomancers believe in the power of their divining rods.

  • During the drought, villagers hired a rhabdomancer to search for underground water sources.

  • The rhabdomancer claimed he could locate a hidden well beneath the old farmhouse.

  • Skeptics argued that the rhabdomancer's methods were not scientifically proven.

Synonyms

dowser
vsrhabdomancer
1 9.9

A person who uses a stick to find water or minerals underground

claims to locate hidden water or minerals using a divining rod
water witch
vsrhabdomancer
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A woman who finds underground water using a divining rod

includes finding minerals too and applies to any gender

Surface Forms

rhabdomancer singular
rhabdomancers plural

Morphology

rhabdomancer = mancer (opaque) = rhabdo + mancer

The word is built from a classical combining form plus an obscure learned base, so its meaning is not recoverable for an average B1 learner from the components alone.

Etymology

The word rhabdomancer comes from Greek parts rhabdo- 'rod' and -mancer 'one who divines', like in necromancer. So a rhabdomancer is someone who uses a rod to find water or hidden minerals under the ground.