prophesy

[prof-uh-sahy]

verb (used with object), proph·e·sied, proph·e·sy·ing.

to foretell or predict.

to indicate beforehand.

to declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration.

to utter in prophecy or as a prophet.

verb (used without object), proph·e·sied, proph·e·sy·ing.

to make predictions.

to make inspired declarations of what is to come.

to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God's stead.

Archaic. to teach religious subjects.

Nearby words

Origin of prophesy

1350–1400; Middle English; v. use of variant of prophecy (fully distinguished in form and meaning in the 18th century)

SYNONYMS FOR prophesy

1. augur, prognosticate. See predict. 3. divine.

Related formsproph·e·si·a·ble, adjectiveproph·e·si·er, nounun·proph·e·sied, adjective

Can be confusedprophecy prophesy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for prophesying

Clearly, then, we are to understand that the prophesying and the laying on of hands accompanied one another.
The Expositor's Bible: The Pastoral Epistles|Alfred Plummer
Though he has little enthusiasm for the abstract "rights of man," he is a great believer in "the liberty of prophesying."
Humanly Speaking|Samuel McChord Crothers
But it will be a barren heritage if in cherishing the liberty we lose the prophesying.
Expositor's Bible: The Song of Solomon|Walter Adeney
Severinus left the town at once, prophesying, it was said, the very day and hour of its fall.
The Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 (of 16)|Sabine Baring-Gould

Apraxin wept, and clasped me in his arms, prophesying at the same time, I should never be so happy as in Russia.
The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck|Baron Trenck

British Dictionary definitions for prophesying

prophesy

verb -sies, -sying or -sied

to reveal or foretell (something, esp a future event) by or as if by divine inspiration

(intr) archaic to give instruction in religious subjects

Derived Formsprophesiable, adjectiveprophesier, noun

Word Origin for prophesy

C14 prophecien, from prophecy

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 prophesying

prophesy

mid-14c., prophecein, prophesein, from Old French prophecier (13c.), from prophecie (see prophecy). The noun and verb spellings were not fully differentiated until 18c. Related: Prophesied; prophesying.

prophesy

verb (used with object), proph·e·sied, proph·e·sy·ing.

verb (used without object), proph·e·sied, proph·e·sy·ing.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of prophesy

Examples from the Web for prophesying

prophesy

verb -sies, -sying or -sied

Word Origin for prophesy

prophesy