AXINOMANTIA, from axion, securis and karis, divination; an ancient species of divination, or a method of foretelling future events by means of an ax or hatchet.—This art was in considerable repute among the ancients; and was performed, according to some, by laying an agate-stone on a red-hot hatchet; and also by fixing a hatchet on a round stake so as to be exactly poised; then the names of those that were suspected were repeated, and he at whose name the hatchet moved was pronounced guilty.