prophesy

[ prof-uh-sahy ]
See synonyms for prophesy on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),proph·e·sied, proph·e·sy·ing.
  1. to foretell or predict.

  2. to indicate beforehand.

  1. to declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration.

  2. 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.

  1. to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God's stead.

  2. Archaic. to teach religious subjects.

Origin of prophesy

1
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)

synonym study For prophesy

1. See predict.

confusables note For prophesy

See prophecy.

Other words for prophesy

Other words from prophesy

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

Words that may be confused with prophesy

Words Nearby prophesy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use prophesy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prophesy

prophesy

/ (ˈprɒfɪˌsaɪ) /


verb-sies, -sying or -sied
  1. to reveal or foretell (something, esp a future event) by or as if by divine inspiration

  2. (intr) archaic to give instruction in religious subjects

Origin of prophesy

1
C14 prophecien, from prophecy

Derived forms of prophesy

  • prophesiable, adjective
  • prophesier, noun

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