Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

sortes

noun

/ˈsɔːr.tiz/

Definition

Sortes refers to a method of divination in which a person seeks guidance or a form of prophecy by interpreting a randomly chosen text or passage.

Examples

During ancient times, many people relied on sortes to make important life decisions.
The act of sortes often involved asking a question and turning to a random page of a text to find an answer.
Modern interpretations of sortes can be seen in practices like bibliomancy.

Meaning

The term has its roots in ancient practices where individuals would randomly select a piece of literature (often sacred texts) to determine divinely inspired outcomes or decisions.