KJV Dictionary Definition: divination

divination

DIVINATION, n. L., to foretell. See Divine.

1. The act of divining; a foretelling future events, or discovering things secret or obscure, by the aid of superior beings, or by other than human means. The ancient heathen philosophers divided divination into two kinds, natural and artificial. Natural divination was supposed to be effected by a kind of inspiration or divine afflatus; artificial divination was effected by certain rites, experiments or observations, as by sacrifices, cakes, flour, wine, observation of entrails, flight of birds, lots, verses, omens, position of the stars, &c.

2. Conjectural presage; prediction.

divinator

DIVINATOR, n. One who pretends to divination.

divine

DIVINE, a. L., a god.

1. Pertaining to the true God; as the divine nature; divine perfections.

2. Pertaining to a heathen deity, or to false gods.

3. Partaking of the nature of God.

Half human, half divine.

4. Proceeding from God; as divine judgments.

5. Godlike; heavenly; excellent in the highest degree; extraordinary; apparently above what is human. In this application the word admits of comparison; as a divine invention; a divine genius; the divinest mind.

A divine sentence is in the lips of the king. Proverbs 16.

6. Presageful; foreboding; prescient. Not used.

7. Appropriated to God, or celebrating his praise; as divine service; divine songs; divine worship.

DIVINE, n.

1. A minister of the gospel; a priest; a clergyman.

The first divines of New England were surpassed by none in extensive erudition, personal sanctity, and diligence in the pastoral office.

2. A man skilled in divinity; a theologian; as a great divine.

DIVINE, v.t. L.

1. To foreknow; to foretell; to presage.

Darst thou divine his downfall?

2. To deify. Not in use.

DIVINE, v.i.

1. To use or practice divination.

2. To utter presages or prognostications.

The prophets thereof divine for money. Micah 3.

3. To have presages or forebodings.

Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts--

4. To guess or conjecture.

Could you divine what lovers bear.

divinely

DIVINELY, adv.

1. In a divine or godlike manner; in a manner resembling deity.

2. By the agency or influence of God; as a prophet divinely inspired; divinely taught.

3. Excellently; in the supreme degree; as divinely fair; divinely brave.

divineness

DIVINENESS, n.

1. Divinity; participation of the divine nature; as the divineness of the scriptures. Little used.

2. Excellence in the supreme degree.

diviner

DIVINER, n.

1. One who professes divination; one who pretends to predict events, or to reveal occult things, by the aid of superior beings, or of supernatural means.

These nations hearkened to diviners. Deuteronomy 18.

2. One who guesses; a conjecturer.

divinity

DIVINITY, n. L.

1. The state of being divine; Deity; Godhead; the nature or essence of God. Christians ascribe divinity to one Supreme Being only.

2. God; the Deity; the Supreme Being.

Tis the Divinity that stirs within us.

3. A false God; a pretended deity of pagans.

Beastly divinities, and droves of gods.

4. A celestial being, inferior to the Supreme God, but superior to man. Many nations believe in these inferior divinities.

5. Something supernatural.

They say there is divinity in odd numbers.

6. The science of divine things; the science which unfolds the character of God, his laws and moral government, the duties of man, and the way of salvation; theology; as the study of divinity; a system of divinity.