CLEDONISM, CLEDONISMUS, a kind of divination,
in use among the ancients. The word is formed
from κλῆδος, which signifies two things, rumor, "a
report," and ὄρνις, "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 be-
lieved the pronouncing of certain words, e. g. incen-
dium, at a meal, very unhappy. Thus, instead of priso-
n, they used the word domicilium; and to avoid erim-
nys, furies, said cumenides. In the second sense, cledon-
ism should seem a divination drawn from birds; the
same with ornithomantia.