Predict

Pronunciation

Alternative forms

• prædict archaic

Origin

17th Century: from Latin praedīcere ("to mention beforehand"), from prae ("before") + dīcere ("to say").

Full definition of predict

Verb

1. (transitive) To state, or make something known in advance, especially using inference or special knowledge.to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a cometHow did Nostradamus predict that this would happen?
• 2012, Jeremy Bernstein, A Palette of Particles, The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier.
2. (transitive) To believe or hold to be true in advance; forehold; surmise.How could I ever predict this could happen?
3. (intransitive) To foretell, foresee or prophesy.

Related terms

• predictable
• predictability
• predictably
• predictive
• predictively
• predictiveness
• predictor

Noun

1. (obsolete) A prediction.
• 1609, William Shakespeare, :Or say with Princes if it shall go well,
  By oft predict that I in heaven find.