CLEDONISM, CLEDONISMUS, a kind of divination, in use among the ancients. The word is formed from clavis, which signifies two things, rumor, "a report," and avis, "a bird." In the first sense, cledonism should denote a kind of divination drawn from words occasionally uttered. Cicero observes, that the Pythagoreans made observation not only of the words of the gods, but of those of men; and accordingly believed the pronouncing of certain words, v. g. incandium, at a meal, very unhappy. Thus, instead of prison, they used the word domicilium; and to avoid erimys, furies, said eumemides. In the second sense, cledonism should seem a divination drawn from birds; the same with ornithomantia.