prophetic

Sometimes pro·phet·i·cal

[pruh-fet-ik]

adjective

1. of or relating to a prophet.

   prophetic inspiration.

2. of the nature of or containing prophecy.

   prophetic writings.

3. having the function or powers of a prophet, as a person.

4. predictive; presageful or portentous; ominous.

   prophetic signs; prophetic warnings.

prophetic

/ prəˈfɛtɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a prophet or prophecy

2. containing or of the nature of a prophecy; predictive

Other Word Forms

• propheticality noun
• propheticalness noun
• prophetically adverb
• hyperprophetic adjective
• hyperprophetical adjective
• hyperprophetically adverb
• nonprophetic adjective
• nonprophetical adjective
• nonprophetically adverb
• postprophetic adjective
• postprophetical adjective
• preprophetic adjective
• pseudoprophetic adjective
• pseudoprophetical adjective
• quasi-prophetic adjective
• quasi-prophetical adjective
• quasi-prophetically adverb
• unprophetic adjective
• unprophetical adjective
• unprophetically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophetic¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Late Latin prophēticus, from Greek prophētikós; equivalent to prophet + -ic

Example Sentences

Too stilted in phrasing to our modern poll-tested ears, it was nevertheless, as she said in the video of her retirement announcement, “prophetic.”

Read more on Salon

“It seems prophetic now that the slogan of my very first campaign in 1987 was, ‘A voice that will be heard,’ and it was you who made those words come true.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A solo oboe was a prophetic voice in the wilderness.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Murphy couldn’t have realized then how prophetic his note to Friedman would turn out to be.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A photograph of him at age 3, posing on the Olympic Stadium field with his dad and dressed in a full Expos uniform, has remained an indelible image that proved prophetic.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• apocalyptic 
• prescient