Obs. [ad. Fr. alphitomantie (Cotgr., 1611); f. Gr. ἀλφιτόμαντις ‘a diviner by barley-meal,’ of which the abst. sb. would be ἀλφιτόμαντεία. Probably in med.L. before adoption into mod. langs.] Divination by means of barley-meal.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 165. Alphitomancy, divining by meal, flower, or branne.
1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xxv. Fully and amply disclosed unto you … by alphitomancy.
1721. in Bailey; and in mod. Dicts.
