spae

American

[spey] / speɪ /

verb (used with object)

Chiefly Scot.

spaed, spaeing

to prophesy; foretell; predict.

spae British

/ speɪ /

verb

to foretell (the future)

"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

Other Word Forms

spaer noun

Etymology

Origin of spae

1250–1300; Middle English span < Old Norse spā

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That ye like weel, an wad his fortune learn, I shall employ the farthest o' my skill, To spae it faithfully, be't good or ill.

From Project Gutenberg

Mother! mother! do not spae sorrow to your own child.

From Project Gutenberg

"I am already yours, George," answered she, as she buried her head in his bosom, to conceal her blushes—"I am already yours, by a plighted faith that never will be broken; and it may be even as you say; but I wish nae ill to my enemies, and will spae nae waur fortune to Margaret Grierson, wha has injured me, than that she may get as guid a husband as you will, I trust, be to me."

From Project Gutenberg

I'm a safe carle, and can spae fortunes as well as blaw up thae green bags wi' thriftless wind.

From Project Gutenberg

“Gie’s your loof,9 hinny,” says she, “and let me spae your weird to ye.”

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023