catoptromancy

Founding-era definition · Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

CATOPTROMANCY, noun A species of divination among the ancients, 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.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI

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