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fortune-telling - 2 dictionary results

for⋅tune⋅tell⋅ing

[fawr-chuhn-tel-ing]
–noun
1. the act or practice of predicting the future.
–adjective
2. engaged in or used for fortunetelling.
Also, fortune-telling.


Origin:
1550–60; fortune + tell + -ing 1

fortune-telling

the forecasting of future events or the delineation of character by methods not ordinarily considered to have a rational basis. Evidence indicates that forms of fortune-telling were practiced in ancient China, Egypt, Chaldea, and Babylonia as long ago as 4000 BC. Prophetic dreams and oracular utterances played an important part in ancient religion and medicine

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