prescience

[ presh-uhns, -ee-uhns, pree-shuhns, -shee-uhns ]

noun

1. knowledge of things before they exist or happen; foreknowledge; foresight.

prescience

/ ˈprɛsɪəns /

noun

1. knowledge of events before they take place; foreknowledge

Derived Forms

• ˈpresciently, adverb
• ˈprescient, adjective

Other Words From

• prescient adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prescience¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Late Latin praescientia “foreknowledge”; equivalent to pre- + science

Word History and Origins

Origin of prescience¹

C14: from Latin praescīre to foreknow, from prae before + scīre to know

Example Sentences

Now scientists have much more data, and have narrowed the possibilities in a way that confirms the prescience of Friedmann’s math.

From Science News

Though Butler’s vision may be more anarchical than the United States of today, her prescience—particularly regarding the urgent climate threats faced by California—is undeniable.

From Outside Online

Melange also conveys a kind of prescience and makes faster-than-light travel practical.

From Ars Technica

Interestingly, a 2017 study done at the University of Kansas found that the onset of Uber caused ambulance use to drop by seven percent—apparently people in less dire straits have the prescience to avoid huge bills, even in their moment of crisis.

From Singularity Hub 

Her prescience and her instincts go unheeded, and the damage that she causes threatens to consume her altogether.

From The Daily Beast

A novelist friend of mine talks about literary prescience—she writes about something and then it comes true.

From The Daily Beast

Rather than celebrating their prescience, the bloggers sound downright dismayed.

From The Daily Beast

Blue Leaves also attracted Stiller with its prescience about our society's obsession with fame.

From The Daily Beast

Proving that in this case, provenance—and prescience—can be quite lucrative.

From The Daily Beast

In good time he had selected and laid out the inevitable field of battle with military prescience of the first order.

From Project Gutenberg

In reading this magnificent and well-known sentence from Hooker, the imagination is easily kindled to a divine prescience.

From Project Gutenberg

He had a keen prescience that the death of the favourite of the harem might influence very quickly Dilama's fate.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, the Governor had never been as quick as that, and I ascribe it to the uncanny prescience which comes to the very sick.

From Project Gutenberg

No man I know on the earth's surface, who greater prescience has than thou, Gripir!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• foreknowledge
• presage