oracle

[ awr-uh-kuhl, or- ]

noun

1. (especially in ancient Greece) an utterance, often ambiguous or obscure, given by a priest or priestess at a shrine as the response of a god to an inquiry.
2. the agency or medium giving such responses.
3. a shrine or place at which such responses were given:

   the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.

4. a person who delivers authoritative, wise, or highly regarded and influential pronouncements.
5. a divine communication or revelation.
6. any person or thing serving as an agency of divine communication.
7. any utterance made or received as authoritative, extremely wise, or infallible.
8. oracles, the Scriptures.
9. the holy of holies of the Temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 6:16, 19–23.

oracle

/ ˈɒrəkəl /

noun

1. a prophecy, often obscure or allegorical, revealed through the medium of a priest or priestess at the shrine of a god
2. a shrine at which an oracular god is consulted
3. an agency through which a prophecy is transmitted
4. any person or thing believed to indicate future action with infallible authority
5. a statement believed to be infallible and authoritative
6. Bible
   1. a message from God
   2. the holy of holies in the Israelite temple

Word History and Origins

Origin of oracle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin ōrāculum, equivalent to ōrā(re) “to plead” + -culum diminutive noun suffix; oration, -cle ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of oracle¹

C14: via Old French from Latin ōrāculum, from ōrāre to request

Example Sentences

It might be why the public sometimes looks upon forensic pathologists as oracles, believing them capable of reconstructing ironclad, Clue-like scenarios.

From Time

After a decentralized cross-chain oracle called a "guardian" certifies that the coins have been properly locked on one chain, the bridge mints or releases tokens of the same value on the other chain.

From Ars Technica

For that matter most of us would plug our ears if an oracle promised to tell us the day we will die.

From Nautilus

This neurobiological oracle, not deterministic but rather probabilistic, warns about potential dangers and opportunities, providing guidance on decisions to be made.

From Time

Vents built into the stone structure, in addition to providing fresh air, may have given the oracle at Chavín a highly engineered voice “worthy of the Wizard of Oz” when the shell trumpets were played inside them.

From Washington Post

Her very first sculpture, a metallic chrome unicorn aptly titled “Space Oracle,” sits on a pedestal directly in front.

From The Daily Beast

And, anyway, what would it take to be a Samuel Gompers at Microsoft, Facebook, Oracle, Amazon, or Google?

From The Daily Beast

A Brit by birth, the eight-armed oracle was born in Weymouth, England, in 2008 at the Sea Life Centre.

From The Daily Beast

Just this week, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison said Apple was adrift without Steve Jobs.

From The Daily Beast

The move will take place on July 15 as software giant Oracle leaves for the New York Stock Exchange.

From The Daily Beast

The latter is a square-faced practical man, who is looked up to as a species of oracle by all his friends.

From Project Gutenberg

The League Oracle admits that "a repeal would injure the farmer, but not so much as he fears."

From Project Gutenberg

An oracle said that he would not succeed in its erection before a man voluntarily offered himself as a sacrifice.

From Project Gutenberg

There were in Greece two young rakes, who were told by the oracle to beware of the melampygos or sable posteriors.

From Project Gutenberg

It is plain that there are more ways than one of explaining such an oracle.

From Project Gutenberg