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Jul 28, 2005

This week's theme
Words related to forecasting

This week's words
oneiromancy
cassandra
fatidic
dowse
sortilege

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dowse

verb tr., intr.: To search for underground water or minerals with a divining rod.

[Of obscure origin.]

Dowsing is usually performed using a forked twig. With one end in each hand and the third end pointing out, a dowser walks forward and the pointer is supposed to lead towards water and vibrate when near water. There are even various societies of dowsers. An argument refuting the claims of dowsing. The word is also a variant spelling of the word douse.

"[Edith Greene] found water for the town of Montgomery when a paid hydrologist couldn't. She is a person who spends a good part of her time dowsing, and not just for water."
Elizabeth Bingham; Dowser, Esoteric Healer to Speak at Dowsing Meeting; County Courier (Enosburg, Vermont); Jul 21, 2005.

See more usage examples of dowse in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

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