The combining form "-mancy" comes from the Greek word "manteia," which means "divination" or "soothsaying". It ultimately derives from the Greek " manteis," meaning "one who divines, a seer, prophet," and further from "mainesthai," meaning "to be inspired". This root is related to "menos," meaning "passion, spirit," and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root "mnyo-," which refers to qualities and states of mind or thought. The suffix is also found in Old French as "-mancie" and Latin as "-mantia".