pythoness

American  

[pahy-thuh-nis, pith-uh-] / ˈpaɪ θə nɪs, ˈpɪθ ə- /

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.

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pythoness British  

/ ˈpaɪθəˌnɛs /

noun

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

2. a female soothsayer

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Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of pythoness

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

Example Sentences

Against this doom Genevi�ve Tabouis, ex-political pythoness of Paris' Leftist L'Oeuvre, for seven years waged a one-woman struggle, of which these memoirs are a record.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thereafter, Storri was no sooner in the Harley house when, presto! from over the way our pythoness sweeps in.

From The President A novel by Lewis, Alfred Henry

Bess and he were on amiable terms, and he was secretly assured that the blonde pythoness approved him.

From The President A novel by Lewis, Alfred Henry

Or the convulsion of the pythoness on the tripod?

From Getting Married by Shaw, Bernard

Seated in a shadowed chamber he poured out his artless tale to the pythoness, of course concealing all names.

From Lysbeth, a Tale of the Dutch by Haggard, Henry Rider