'austromancy' originates from Latin and Greek, specifically the Latin word 'Auster' and the Greek word 'manteia', where 'Auster' meant 'south (the south wind)' and 'manteia' meant 'divination'.

'austromancy' changed from the Medieval Latin word 'austromantia' and eventually became the modern English word 'austromancy'.

Initially, it meant 'divination by the south wind', and over time this core meaning has largely been retained into modern usage as a rare technical term for that practice.