prophesy
prophesy Lexical Profile
prophesy Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To say that a specified thing will happen in the future, especially by means of divine inspiration or mystical foresight.
"Several economists were quick to prophesy a rapid recovery in the global housing market."
To speak or teach as an intermediary, oracle, or religious prophet.
"According to the ancient text, the seer traveled from village to village to prophesy to the people."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse the verb 'prophesy' (pronounced with a long 'i' sound at the end, like 'sigh') with the noun 'prophecy' (pronounced with a long 'e' sound, like 'see'); 'prophesy' is the action of predicting, whereas 'prophecy' is the prediction itself.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French profecier, which derives via Late Latin from Ancient Greek prophēteia ('the gift of interpreting the will of the gods'), formed from pro- ('before') and phanai ('to speak').