Thom Noblitt y Gonzalez Posted January 31, 2012 Posted January 31, 2012 A interesting word I randomly found online: Top 10 Words with Bizarre Meanings #3: Axinomancy Definition: divination by means of the movements of an ax placed on a post About the Word: An ancient means of determining guilt, axinomancy involved balancing an ax on a post, and reading a list of names aloud. If the ax moved at a particular name, that person was deemed guilty. In another (equally strange) version, a marble was placed on a red–hot ax; the motion of the marble signaled guilt. and now I wonder about what kind of axe would be best for the task. I haven't known to many that could balance a marble on them. Original Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/top-10-words-with-bizarre-meanings/axinomancy.html Quote
ThomasPowers Posted January 31, 2012 Posted January 31, 2012 If you can't balance a marble on your axe you're guilty and will have to sweep dust off the floor of the shop! (As we have a dirt floor this is *most* amusing!) Quote
BlissStreet Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 I wonder how you get the list of names. Is it like a police lineup, where all but the suspects is a known not guilty? And the test just confirms the suspiction? Or do you have a problem, make a list of everybody even remotely associated and let the axe fall where it may? Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.