arithmancy

noun

Meaning

Divination through the use of numbers, typically by assigning numerical values to letters in a name or word to interpret hidden meanings.

Examples

  • Ancient practitioners of arithmancy believed that every name carried a specific vibration that could reveal a person's destiny.
  • While often dismissed as pseudoscience, arithmancy remains a popular theme in fantasy literature and occult studies.

Synonyms: numerology, divination, fortune-telling, augury