Prophesy

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpɹɒfɪsaɪ/
• US IPA: /ˈpɹɑfɪsaɪ/

Origin

Partly from prophecy, and partly from Middle French prophecier, prophesier, from prophecie ("prophecy").

Full definition of prophesy

Verb

1. To speak or write with divine inspiration; to act as prophet. from 14th c.
2. To predict, to foretell. from 14th c.
• Bible, 1 Kings xxii. 8He doth not prophesy good concerning me.
• ShakespeareThen I perceive that will be verified
  Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy.
• 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 745:‘It has been prophesied more than once that he will find it.’
3. To foreshow; to herald; to prefigure.
• ShakespeareMethought thy very gait did prophesy
  A royal nobleness; I must embrace thee.
4. (intransitive, Christianity) To speak out on the Bible as an expression of holy inspiration; to preach. from 14th c.

Related terms

• prophecy
• prophet
• prophetic
• prophetize