Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
lecanomantic

lecanomantic

9.9
Relating to telling the future using water in a bowl
  • adjective
  • /ˌlɛkəˈnæmɪtɪk/
  • Archaic
translation icon : lecanomántico
  • The vessel may reflect knowledge of antique divinatory culture and may even have been used in lecanomantic hydromancy, that is, divination through containers filled with water.

Examples

  • Zeus was also invoked in late antique divinatory rituals, for example, necromantic (conjuring the dead), oracular dream, and lecanomantic spells.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Although the S. Marco bowl is unique, aspects of its program parallel features of other middle Byzantine vessels, raising the possibility that these objects also functioned as lecanomantic, hydromantic tools.

    Academic text (2008)

  • In the previously cited instructions for a fourth-century lecanomantic ritual.

    Academic text (2008)

  • In ancient cultures, people practiced lecanomantic rituals to gain insight into their future using water in bowls.

  • The lecanomantic techniques involved interpreting the movements of water in a basin to provide prophetic messages.

  • During the festival, a lecanomantic ceremony was held where participants looked into bowls of water to seek guidance.

Synonyms

hydromantic
vslecanomantic
  • Archaic
9.9

Relating to telling the future by looking at water

uses a bowl or basin specifically rather than any water

Surface Forms

lecanomantic positive

Morphology

lecanomantic = mantic (opaque) = lecano + mantic

The word is built regularly from the rare combining form lecano- plus mantic, but the specialized classical elements make the meaning hard to infer for most learners.

Etymology

Lecanomantic comes from the Greek words lekane meaning 'bowl' and manteia meaning 'divination'. So a lecanomantic reading is simply telling the future by looking at water in a bowl.