hariolation

noun

har·​i·​o·​la·​tion

ˌharēəˈlāshən

plural -s

: the act or process of deduction : guesswork

facts as distinguished from what classical scholars call hariolations

—George Saintsbury

Word History

Etymology

Latin hariolation-, hariolatio action of prophesying, from hariolatus (past participle of hariolari to prophesy, divine) + -ion-, -io -ion; probably akin to Latin haruspex soothsayer, diviner

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