spae

American  

[spey] / speɪ /

verb (used with object)

Chiefly Scot.

spaed, spaeing

1. to prophesy; foretell; predict.

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spae British  

/ speɪ /

verb

1. to foretell (the future)

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Other Word Forms

• spaer noun

Etymology

Origin of spae

1250–1300; Middle English span < Old Norse spā

Example Sentences

I'm a safe carle, and can spae fortunes as well as blaw up thae green bags wi' thriftless wind.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 4 by Various

Thy mother's gone abroad to spae, Her kindly milk thou shalt enjoy When home she comes at close of day.

From Romano Lavo-Lil: word book of the Romany; or, English Gypsy language by Borrow, George Henry

Well, Miriam, you used to spae fortunes for a living.

From The Unseen Bridgegroom or, Wedded For a Week by Fleming, May Agnes

That ye like weel, an wad his fortune learn, I shall employ the farthest o' my skill, To spae it faithfully, be't good or ill.

From The Genius of Scotland or Sketches of Scottish Scenery, Literature and Religion by Turnbull, Robert

She has keeked in the glass at Hallow-een A better chance to spae.

From New Collected Rhymes by Lang, Andrew