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View synonyms for prophesy

prophesy

[ prof-uh-sahy ]

verb (used with object)

, proph·e·sied, proph·e·sy·ing.
  1. to foretell or predict.

    Synonyms: prognosticate, augur

  2. to indicate beforehand.
  3. to declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration.

    Synonyms: divine

  4. to utter in prophecy or as a prophet.


verb (used without object)

, proph·e·sied, proph·e·sy·ing.
  1. to make predictions.
  2. to make inspired declarations of what is to come.
  3. to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God's stead.
  4. Archaic. to teach religious subjects.

prophesy

/ ˈprɒfɪˌsaɪ /

verb

  1. to reveal or foretell (something, esp a future event) by or as if by divine inspiration
  2. archaic.
    intr to give instruction in religious subjects


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Confusables Note

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Derived Forms

  • ˈpropheˌsier, noun
  • ˈpropheˌsiable, adjective

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Other Words From

  • prophe·sia·ble adjective
  • prophe·sier noun
  • un·prophe·sied adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of prophesy1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; verb use of variant of the noun prophecy (fully distinguished in form and meaning in the 18th century)

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Word History and Origins

Origin of prophesy1

C14 prophecien, from prophecy

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Synonym Study

See predict.

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Example Sentences

Problem is, if enough people jump ship, that will become a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Son of man, set thy face against the children of Ammon, and thou shalt prophesy of them.

I always prophesy it just six months off; but do I believe it?

When all men speak well of a wedding, and all the prophets prophesy smooth things—my fear is great.

Then he showed them the difference between the meaning of the Greek word, and that of the modern English word prophesy.

This animal is also a favourite mythic form of expression in Merlin's famous prophesy.

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