prophetic

Sometimes pro·phet·i·cal

[pruh-fet-ik]

adjective

1. of or relating to a prophet.

   prophetic inspiration.

2. of the nature of or containing prophecy.

   prophetic writings.

3. having the function or powers of a prophet, as a person.

4. predictive; presageful or portentous; ominous.

   prophetic signs; prophetic warnings.

prophetic

/ prəˈfɛtɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a prophet or prophecy

2. containing or of the nature of a prophecy; predictive

Other Word Forms

• propheticality noun
• propheticalness noun
• prophetically adverb
• hyperprophetic adjective
• hyperprophetical adjective
• hyperprophetically adverb
• nonprophetic adjective
• nonprophetical adjective
• nonprophetically adverb
• postprophetic adjective
• postprophetical adjective
• preprophetic adjective
• pseudoprophetic adjective
• pseudoprophetical adjective
• quasi-prophetic adjective
• quasi-prophetical adjective
• quasi-prophetically adverb
• unprophetic adjective
• unprophetical adjective
• unprophetically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophetic¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Late Latin prophēticus, from Greek prophētikós; equivalent to prophet + -ic

Example Sentences

A photograph of him at age 3, posing on the Olympic Stadium field with his dad and dressed in a full Expos uniform, has remained an indelible image that proved prophetic.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

While many remember it for being predicated upon shaky documents, it was also incredibly prophetic about the future media landscape: One that’s rapidly consumed by corporate interests, political pressure and the erosion of editorial independence.

Read more on Salon

And this kind of prophetic feeling that keeps coming over me nowadays.

Read more on Salon

As a picture of Los Angeles, Mayo wrote, “I suspect that it is prophetic. ‘

Read more on Los Angeles Times

What’s amazing about “Brazil,” even after 40 years, is how prophetic it was about the manipulation of public mores and knowledge by a totalitarian regime.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apocalyptic 
• prescient