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Dowsing: meaning, definitions and examples

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dowsing

 

[ ˈdaʊzɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

divination method

Dowsing is a divination method that is believed to be used to locate water, minerals, or other hidden things. This practice involves holding a forked stick or a pendulum over a map or a physical site, which is said to react to the presence of the sought substance by moving or pointing to it. While many practitioners find success in dowsing, scientific studies have consistently shown that there is no evidence supporting its efficacy beyond chance. Despite skepticism from the scientific community, dowsing remains popular among some groups and is often associated with geomancy and other forms of folk magic.

Synonyms

divining, magnetism, water witching

Examples of usage

  • He used dowsing to find a water source.
  • She practiced dowsing during her visit to the countryside.
  • Dowsing is often mentioned in discussions about alternative therapies.

Translations

Translations of the word "dowsing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 radiestesia

🇮🇳 डौजिंग

🇩🇪 Wasseraderortung

🇮🇩 dowsing

🇺🇦 дослідження води

🇵🇱 wodociąg

🇯🇵 ダウジング

🇫🇷 radiesthésie

🇪🇸 radiestesia

🇹🇷 su arama

🇰🇷 다우징

🇸🇦 استكشاف المياه

🇨🇿 proutkaření

🇸🇰 hľadanie vody

🇨🇳 探水术

🇸🇮 radiestezija

🇮🇸 vatnsleit

🇰🇿 судың іздеу

🇬🇪 წყლის ძიება

🇦🇿 su axtarışı

🇲🇽 radiestesia

Etymology

The term 'dowsing' likely derives from the German word 'taufen', which means 'to baptize' and can relate to the act of discovering or finding something. The practice itself has roots that can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where individuals sought to locate water and minerals in a variety of ways. Historical records show that dowsing has been practiced in Western Europe, particularly in Germany and Britain, for centuries. During the Middle Ages, miners in Europe would commonly employ dowsing as a means to find ores and other valuable resources. As scientific inquiry evolved, skepticism toward methods like dowsing grew, leading to a decline in its prevalence among serious prospectors. Nevertheless, dowsing persists in some cultures and has been integrated into folklore, and it remains a point of curiosity for many people interested in alternative methods of searching for resources.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,616, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.