Astroscopy

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    observation of the stars obsolete, uncountable

    "That astroscopy, or the inspection of the stars, furnished practical aids to navigation and other pursuits from very early times, is not questioned; but astroscopy is no more astronomy than it is the science of electricity to watch the play of the lightning in the clouds."

  2. 2
    Any of various systems of prognostication by means of the planets and stars other than astrology involving the zodiac. uncountable

    "If the signs of the times are read aright by those most skilled in such astroscopy, the Board will not long languish for the want of such medication."

Example

More examples

"That astroscopy, or the inspection of the stars, furnished practical aids to navigation and other pursuits from very early times, is not questioned; but astroscopy is no more astronomy than it is the science of electricity to watch the play of the lightning in the clouds."

Etymology

From astro- + -scopy.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.