*romanc*

n. See Alectryomancy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; wheaten flour + -mancy: cf. F. aleuromancie. ] Divination by means of flour. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. auster south wind + -mancy. ] Soothsaying, or prediction of events, from observation of the winds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; mirror + -mancy. See Catopter. ] (Antiq.) A species of divination, which was performed by letting down a mirror into water, for a sick person to look at his face in it. If his countenance appeared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill omen; if fresh and healthy, it was favorable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. khro`s wax + -mancy. ] Divination by dropping melted wax in water. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who practices chiromancy. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chei`r hand + -mancy. ] The art or practice of foretelling events, or of telling the fortunes or the disposition of persons by inspecting the hand; palmistry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; lot + -mancy; cf. F. cléromancie. ] A divination by throwing dice or casting lots. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gastro- + -mancy: cf. F. gastromancy. ] (Antiq.) (a) A kind of divination, by means of words seemingly uttered from the stomach. (b) A species of divination, by means of glasses or other round, transparent vessels, in the center of which figures are supposed to appear by magic art. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gy^ros ring, circle + -mancy: cf. F. gyromancie. ] A kind of divination performed by drawing a ring or circle, and walking in or around it. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. "iero`s sacred + &unr_; divination: cf. F. hiéromantie.] Divination by observing the objects offered in sacrifice. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Hydro-, 1 + -mancy: cf. F. hydromancie. ] Divination by means of water, -- practiced by the ancients. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Meteor + -mancy : cf. F. météoromancie. ] A species of divination by atmospheric phenomena, chiefly by thunder and lightning, which was held in high estimation by the Romans. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who practices necromancy; a sorcerer; a wizard. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. nigromaunce, nigromancie, OF. nigromance, F. nécromance, nécromancie, from L. necromantia, Gr. &unr_;; nekro`s a dead body (akin to L. necare to kill, Skr. naç to perish, vanish) + &unr_; divination, fr. &unr_; diviner, seer, akin to E. mania. See Mania, and cf. Internecine, Noxious. The old spelling is due to confusion with L. niger black. Hence the name black art. ] The art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead; the black art; hence, magic in general; conjuration; enchantment. See Black art. [ 1913 Webster ]

This palace standeth in the air,
By necromancy placèd there. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Necromancy. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A necromancer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

These false enchanters or nigromanciens. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; a dream + -mancy. ] Divination by means of dreams. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To exceed in romantic character. [ R. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; fire + &unr_; divination: cf. F. pyromancie. ] Divination by means of fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. romance, romant, romaunt, OF. romanz, romans, romant, roman, F. roman, romance, fr. LL. Romanice in the Roman language, in the vulgar tongue, i. e., in the vulgar language which sprang from Latin, the language of the Romans, and hence applied to fictitious compositions written in this vulgar tongue; fr. L. Romanicus Roman, fr. Romanus. See Roman, and cf. Romanic, Romaunt, Romansch, Romanza. ] 1. A species of fictitious writing, originally composed in meter in the Romance dialects, and afterward in prose, such as the tales of the court of Arthur, and of Amadis of Gaul; hence, any fictitious and wonderful tale; a sort of novel, especially one which treats of surprising adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine; a tale of extravagant adventures, of love, and the like. “Romances that been royal.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon these three columns -- chivalry, gallantry, and religion -- repose the fictions of the Middle Ages, especially those known as romances. These, such as we now know them, and such as display the characteristics above mentioned, were originally metrical, and chiefly written by nations of the north of France. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An adventure, or series of extraordinary events, resembling those narrated in romances; as, his courtship, or his life, was a romance. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A dreamy, imaginative habit of mind; a disposition to ignore what is real; as, a girl full of romance. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The languages, or rather the several dialects, which were originally forms of popular or vulgar Latin, and have now developed into Italian. Spanish, French, etc. (called the Romanic languages). [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mus.) A short lyric tale set to music; a song or short instrumental piece in ballad style; a romanza. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. a love affair, esp. one in which the lovers display their deep affection openly, by romantic gestures. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Fable; novel; fiction; tale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the language or dialects known as Romance. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Romanced p. pr. & vb. n. Romancing ] To write or tell romances; to indulge in extravagant stories. [ 1913 Webster ]

A very brave officer, but apt to romance. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who romances. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A romancer. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Romantic. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]