radiesthesia
(ˌreɪdɪɪsˈθiːzɪə)
Also radiæsthesia.
[ad. F. radiesthésie: see radio- and æsthesia.]
The detection of radiation by, or by means of, the body: a process believed by some to be responsible for the operation of dowsing rods, pendulums, and the like as means of locating buried substances, diagnosing illness, etc.
| 1935 Jrnl. Brit. Soc. Dowsers II. 337 The field of radiesthesia is beset with many pitfalls for the unwary. 1950 V. D. Wethered Radiesthetic Approach to Health & Homeopathy iv. 30 The term radiesthesia has been given to the detection by human reactions of ultra-fine radiations or influences such as are given off by the body. 1958 B. Nichols Sweet & Twenties xi. 146 A few doctors who are making the first, hesitant steps into the uncharted science of radiaesthesia. 1960 Times 19 July 18/4 Radiaesthesia and radionics were studied and believed in by many persons. 1960 Spectator 28 Oct. 653/2 Radiesthesia may be described as the utilising of psychic powers for the diagnosis of disease, with the help of some mechanical apparatus. 1962 M. Ash Health, Radiation & Healing iv. 81 The practice of radiesthesia is based on two fundamental facts: first the muscular response of human beings to fields of radiating energy, and secondly the radiating energy emitted by the human body itself. 1975 Homes & Gardens Nov. 63/1 More than 20 doctors in this country practise radiesthesia and some belong to the Medical Society for the Study of Radiesthesia. |
So radiesˈthesic a., radiesthetic; radiˈesthesist, a radiesthetist; radiesˈthetic a., of or pertaining to radiesthesia; radiesˈthetically adv.; radiˈesthetist, one skilled in the techniques of radiesthesia.
| 1934 Jrnl. Brit. Soc. Dowsers I. 142 Study of radiesthetic fields, by Maurice Alby, describes in rather complicated detail the nature and position of fields surrounding underground water. 1936 Discovery Dec. 395/2 Radiesthesists have not hesitated to borrow, often irrationally and incautiously, from the terminology of physics. 1939 Maby & Franklin Physics of Divining Rod 436 Many investigators have thought that dowsers work radiesthetically. 1950 F. A. Archdale Elem. Radiesthesia & Use of Pendulum i. 9 Radiesthesists have different methods, although they achieve the same results or at least hope to, that is to develop and intercept the reflexes resulting from their sensitiveness to radiations emanating from other bodies, either animal, vegetable or mineral. 1957 V. D. Wethered Introd. Med. Radiesthesia & Radionics xiii. 130 A foreign radiesthetist travelling in a train on the Continent was able to diagnose accurately what a fellow traveller was suffering from. 1959 B. Copen What Radiesthesia is & What it can Do 15 All Radiesthesic research, diagnosis or therapy does not involve vivisection or cruelty to animals in any way. 1959 M. Clement tr. A. Mermet's Princ. & Pract. Radiesthesia iii. 36 No insulating substance is known which can affect radiesthetic radiations. Ibid. 37 Some reveal themselves to be radiesthetists at the first attempt, sometimes while undertaking an experiment for fun. 1962 M. Ash Health, Radiation & Healing iv. 88 He showed me how he took a radiesthetic reading by allowing a pendulum held in his hand to swing radially away from a patient's body and moving the pendulum gradually outwards until it began to swing in a different direction. 1977 D. V. Tansley Dimensions of Radionics p. xvii, Out of the investigation we made, there developed in due course his remarkable discovery that it was possible, radiesthetically, to find the archetypal pattern of any substance. 1978 Copen & Kowa Pendulum 7 There are radiesthesists in every country of the world, many who use it [sc. radiesthesia] as a hobby, others as a full-time profession. |