divination
UK[ˌdɪvɪˈneɪʃn]US[ˌdɪvɪˈneɪʃn]
n
The practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means.
n
A skillful guess or prediction.
Morpheme Breakdown
divin
ation
divin
to foresee
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'divination' has its roots in the Latin verb divinare, which means 'to foresee' or 'to be inspired by a god'. This verb itself stems from divinus, meaning 'of a god' or 'divine', connecting the act of foretelling to divine inspiration. The core concept evolved from the ancient belief that knowledge of the future was a sacred, god-given insight. Over time, the term broadened to encompass not only formal religious or mystical practices but also the more general human act of making a clever prediction or an inspired guess.
Analysis
Structure: divin (to foresee) + ation (noun suffix)
'divin' originates from Latin divinare, meaning 'to foresee, to be inspired by a god', derived from divinus ('of a god'). 'ation' is a Latin-derived noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process.
Examples
The ancient priestess was renowned for her divination, interpreting omens from the flight of birds.
His accurate forecast seemed less like economic analysis and more like divination.
She looked into the crystal ball, performing an act of divination to answer the queen's urgent question.