Palmistry: meaning, definitions and examples

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palmistry

 

[ ˈpɑː.mɪ.stri ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

divination practice

Palmistry, also known as chiromancy, is the practice of evaluating a person’s character or predicting their future by examining the lines, shapes, and mounts of their hands, particularly the palms. This ancient art has roots in various cultures, including Indian, Chinese, and Greek traditions. Practitioners of palmistry believe that the hands represent the individual's traits and tendencies. Different lines and markings are interpreted to provide insights into a person’s personality and potential life events.

Synonyms

chiromancy, hand reading, palm reading.

Examples of usage

  • She consulted a palmistry expert to learn about her future.
  • The palmistry session revealed intriguing details about his life path.
  • He was skeptical of palmistry but intrigued by its history.

Translations

Translations of the word "palmistry" in other languages:

🇵🇹 quiromancia

🇮🇳 हस्तरेखा विज्ञान

🇩🇪 Handlesekunde

🇮🇩 palmistri

🇺🇦 пальмологія

🇵🇱 chiromancja

🇯🇵 手相占い

🇫🇷 chiromancie

🇪🇸 quiromancia

🇹🇷 el falı

🇰🇷 손금

🇸🇦 علم قراءة الكف

🇨🇿 chiromantie

🇸🇰 chiromancia

🇨🇳 手相学

🇸🇮 dlančarstvo

🇮🇸 handlæsni

🇰🇿 алақан жорамал

🇬🇪 ხელის ხაზების კითხვა

🇦🇿 əllə baxma

🇲🇽 quiromancia

Etymology

The term palmistry originates from the Latin word 'palma', meaning 'palm' or 'hand', combined with '-istry', which denotes a field of study or practice. The practice dates back thousands of years and has been documented in various cultures across the globe, from the ancient Egyptians to Indus Valley civilization. In ancient Greece, philosophers such as Aristotle noted palmistry as a method of divination. Over time, palmistry evolved into various forms, each incorporating local traditions and beliefs. In the modern world, palmistry is often associated with the New Age movement and popular culture, yet it retains its historical significance as a tool for introspection and personality analysis.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,464, 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.