different between vertebrae vs astragalomancy

English

Alternative forms

• vertebræ
• vertebras

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?v??.t?.b?i/, /?v??.t?.b?e?/, /?v??.t?.b?a?/

Noun

vertebrae

1. plural of vertebra; the bones that make up the spinal column.

Usage notes

Usually in English, the Latin diphthong ae is Anglicized as /i/, a long e sound. The original Latin diphthong was pronounced /a?/, as a long i. The pronunciation of vertebrae ending in /e?/ with a long a is undoubtedly more common, but generally frowned upon by orthoepists as it is not supported by etymology (like the long i) or analogy (like the long e), only usage. Since all three are supported by their own argument, they are all acceptable.

Anagrams

• reverbate, verberate

Latin

Noun

vertebrae

1. nominative plural of vertebra
2. genitive singular of vertebra
3. dative singular of vertebra
4. vocative plural of vertebra

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ?????????? (astrágalos) +? -mancy.

Noun

astragalomancy (uncountable)

1. Divination by dice made from huckle-bones. They have four flat sides and two round sides which were marked.
2. Divination by throwing astragaloi (see etymology above) onto the pages of a picture book.
3. Simply divination by dice.

Quotations

• ""kinde of divination by the opening of a booke at all adventures..." He adds, "I shall omit to speak here of astragalomancy, that was done with huckle bones; ceromancy, and all other such like fooleries." -- E. Chilmead in Brand Popular Antiquities, Dr. Ferrand, in his Love Melancholy, 1640

• "ASTRAGALOMANCY or ASTRAGYROMANCY: Divination with dice, ranging from crude bones with primitive markings to cubes bearing spots, letters, or cabalistic symbols, all interpreted by the bone caster." -- Gibson Complete Illust. Bk Div. & Prophecy, 1973

• "Astragalomancy: Today this is a form of divination using two dice, but originally a pair of astragals (probably the left and right ankle-bones of a sheep) would have been used." -- Complete Bk Predictions, 1983

Synonyms

• astragyromancy

Further reading

• astragalomancy on Wikipedia.Wikipedia