Meaning of oleomancy | Babel Free

Definitions

The practice of divination by pouring oil into water and observing the resulting patterns.

historical, uncountable

Examples

“The ban on necromancy and divination through idols and teraphim is understandable as falling under the prohibition of worshiping the dead and idols. But on what grounds is the distinction made between, say, hepatoscopy, astrology, and oleomancy, which are all banned, and Urim, ephod, and lots, which are permitted, though also involving a technique?”

“Some of his material makes additions to the hoodoo corpus, especially the title quotation, a divination which may be the only example of oleomancy in HOODOO.”

“Once in camp, Balaam may practice his craft. Mesopotamian baru-prophets read omens, by oleomancy (discerning oil patterns in a cup) or hydromancy (water patterns), by hepatoscopy (liver reading) or necromancy (conjuring up dead spirits).”

CEFR level