Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- divination by means of a book, especially the Bible, opened at random to some verse or passage, which is then interpreted.
noun
- prediction of the future by interpreting a passage chosen at random from a book, esp the Bible
1753, “divination by opening a book (especially the Bible) at random,” the first verse presenting itself being taken as a prognostication of future events, from biblio- + -mancy. In pagan times, Homer (sortes Homericae) and Virgil (sortes Virgilianae) were used.