verb
divine
To discover hidden knowledge through extraordinary insight.
She tries to divine his intentions from his uneasy smile.
Etymology
The Latin verb concerns gaining knowledge through divination. English broadens it to unusually perceptive discovery, retaining the suggestion that ordinary evidence alone did not make the answer obvious.
More examples
- I can't divine what you want without a hint.
- They use tarot cards to divine what lies ahead.
- He divined her disappointment before she said a word.
Forms
divine · divines · divined · divining
divination noun — Discovery of hidden knowledge by supernatural means.