pythoness

[ pahy-thuh-nis, pith-uh- ]

noun

1. a woman believed to be possessed by a soothsaying spirit, as the priestess of Apollo at Delphi.
2. a woman who practices divination.

pythoness

/ ˈpaɪθəˌnɛs /

noun

1. a woman, such as Apollo's priestess at Delphi, believed to be possessed by an oracular spirit
2. a female soothsayer

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pythoness¹

1325–75; python ² + -ess; replacing Middle English phytonesse < Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of pythoness¹

C14 phitonesse, ultimately from Greek Puthōn Python

Example Sentences

Dora stood in the center of the room like an enraged pythoness, her eyes blazing with passion.

From Project Gutenberg

He sent messengers to ascertain if the Pythoness could tell what he, the King of Lydia, was doing on a certain specified day.

From Project Gutenberg

In these paroxysms, Joanna raved like an ancient Pythoness whirling on her tripod, and to just about the same purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

The Countess stood in the midst of her apartment like a juvenile Pythoness under the influence of the prophetic fury.

From Project Gutenberg

The prophecy of Nostradamus is also obviously imitated from the response of the Delphic Pythoness to Œdipus.

From Project Gutenberg