arithmancy

American

[ar-ith-man-see] / ˈær ɪθˌmæn si /

Also arithmomancy

noun

divination by the use of numbers, especially by the number of letters in names.

Etymology

Origin of arithmancy

First recorded in 1570–80; from New Latin arithmomantia, from Greek arithmó(s) “number, a number” + manteía -mancy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A few days before the match against Ravenclaw, Harry found himself walking down to dinner alone from the common room, Ron having rushed off into a nearby bathroom to throw up yet again, and Hermione having dashed off to see Professor Vector about a mistake she thought she might have made in her last Arithmancy essay.

From Literature

She hitched up the long roll of parchment on which she was writing her Arithmancy essay and continued to scratch away with her quill.

From Literature

After break, she went off to Arithmancy while Harry and Ron returned to the common room, where they grudgingly started Snape’s homework.

From Literature

Hermione was immediately cleared to continue with Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Potions, and shot off to a first-period Ancient Runes class without further ado.

From Literature

“That’s the day we finish our exams,” said Hermione, still looking everywhere for her Arithmancy book.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023