spae

American  

[spey] / speɪ /

verb (used with object)

Chiefly Scot.

spaed, spaeing

1. to prophesy; foretell; predict.

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spae British  

/ speɪ /

verb

1. to foretell (the future)

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Other Word Forms

• spaer noun

Etymology

Origin of spae

1250–1300; Middle English span < Old Norse spā

Example Sentences

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

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 4 by Various

I daur you try sic sportin’, As seek the foul Thief onie place, For him to spae your fortune: Nae doubt but ye may get a sight!

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

She has keeked in the glass at Hallow-een A better chance to spae.

From New Collected Rhymes by Lang, Andrew

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

From A Reconstructed Marriage by Barr, Amelia Edith Huddleston

I'm now an auld man, and may be removed before the woes come to pass; but it requires not the e'e of prophecy to spae bloodshed and suffering, and many afflictions in your fortunes.

From Ringan Gilhaize or The Covenanters by Galt, John