astrodiagnosis
|as-tro-di-ag-no-sis|
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/ˌæstroʊdaɪˈɡnoʊsɪs/
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/ˌæstrəʊdaɪˈɡnəʊsɪs/
diagnosis by the stars
Etymology
'astrodiagnosis' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'astro-' (from Greek 'astron' meaning 'star') + 'diagnosis' (from Greek 'diágnōsis' meaning 'discernment' or 'judgment').
'diagnosis' entered English via Latin and Medieval Latin from Greek 'diágnōsis'; the compound 'astrodiagnosis' is a Modern English formation combining 'astro-' + 'diagnosis', used in occult and astrological texts from the 18th–20th centuries onward.
Initially 'diágnōsis' meant 'discernment' in Greek and later came to refer specifically to identifying disease; combined with 'astro-' it came to mean 'diagnosis based on the stars' in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the practice or result of diagnosing a person's health, character, or fate by reference to the positions and movements of celestial bodies (astrology).
In the 18th-century manuscript the healer recorded several cases of astrodiagnosis to explain patients' chronic complaints.
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Noun 2
a figurative assessment or explanation that attributes events or behaviors to astrological causes rather than empirical factors.
Her dismissal of the market downturn as mere astrodiagnosis drew criticism from economists.
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Last updated: 2025/11/07 21:52