Prophesy
/ˈprɒf.ɪ.saɪ/noun
To declare or predict something that will happen in the future, often as inspired by divine revelation.
Did you know?The word 'prophesy' is deeply rooted in ancient spiritual practices, where it signified the power to channel divine messages, making it a sacred act of communication with the gods.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰer-
“to grasp, enclose, or hold, hinting at the idea of holding knowledge.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
προφητεία (prophēteía)
“divine interpretation or prediction, literally meaning 'to speak forth'.”
Latin
Latin
prophētāre
“to declare or speak in favor of, often in a religious context.”
Old French
Old French
profeçier
“to predict or foretell, associated with prophetic declarations.”
Middle English
Middle English
prophesien
“to foretell or predict, often with a spiritual or religious connotation.”
Modern English
English
prophesy
“to predict future events, often with a sacred or mystical implication.”