prophecy
[prof-uh-see]
- the foretelling or prediction of what is to come.
- something that is declared by a prophet, especially a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation.
- a divinely inspired utterance or revelation: oracular prophecies.
- the action, function, or faculty of a prophet.
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Origin of prophecy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
revelationapocalypseprognosticationcastaugurysoothsayingprognosisvisionoracleforecastpresagedivinationprevisionExamples from the Web for prophecy
Contemporary Examples
“Instead of me fulfilling my prophecy,” he said, “I have to start one,” and that was a lot of pressure.
His prophecy kicked off a vertiginous frenzy of doomsaying, and he was thrown in jail by fearful Bolognese officials.
NB: Prophecy is the key source of mystery and danger in our books.
Historical Fiction: A Conversation Between Bruce Holsinger and Nancy BilyeauNancy Bilyeau, Bruce Holsinger
March 30, 2014
These Christians see the Syrian crisis as the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
And nothing short of a sustained campaign that Washington has no stomach for can prevent this prophecy from materializing.
Historical Examples
A bee entered one of the chambers with a prophecy of flowers.
Buds and Bird Voices (From "Mosses From An Old Manse")Nathaniel Hawthorne
Now I should like to know a more sure word of prophecy than that!
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
They have the gift of prophecy, and their predictions are always realised.
The DreamEmile Zola
The sentence has been reversed; the prophecy of Skirving has become history.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII)John Greenleaf Whittier
They even believe them endowed with something celestial and the spirit of prophecy.
Tacitus on GermanyTacitus
prophecy
- a message of divine truth revealing God's will
- the act of uttering such a message
- a prediction or guess
- the function, activity, or charismatic endowment of a prophet or prophets
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Word Origin
C13: ultimately from Greek prophētēs prophet
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for prophecy
n.
c.1200, prophecie, prophesie, "function of a prophet," from Old French profecie (12c. Modern French prophétie) and directly from Late Latin prophetia (source also of Spanish profecia, Italian profezia), from Greek propheteia "gift of interpreting the will of the gods," from prophetes (see prophet). Meaning "thing spoken or written by a prophet" is from c.1300.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper