vaticinate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
- vaticinal adjective
- vaticination noun
- vaticinator noun
Etymology
Origin of vaticinate
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin vāticinātus (past participle of vāticinārī “to prophesy”), equivalent to vāti- (stem of vātēs “seer”) + -cin- (combining form of canere “to sing, prophesy”) + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
When you vaticinate, you tell the future. A carnival fortune teller might vaticinate that you'll travel the world and have seven children. When you make a prediction about what will happen, whether it's a guess or a prophecy, you vaticinate. You might vaticinate about the next day's weather or what will happen on your favorite television show in the upcoming season. A magician might vaticinate what card you'll pull out of a deck. The Latin root word of vaticinate is vates, which means "prophet."
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.
But Gwyneth and I are not uncomfortably provided for, and I no longer contribute paragraphs of gossip to the Pimlico Postboy, nor yet do I vaticinate in the columns of the Tipster.
From In the Wrong Paradise by Lang, Andrew
What the end might be he could not pretend to vaticinate, but "El Pretendiente" would never reign in Madrid.
From Romantic Spain A Record of Personal Experiences (Vol. II) by O'Shea, John Augustus
"You see I've already become the Homer of your triumphs, and vaticinate in rhyme."
From Eric by Farrar, F. W. (Frederic William)
Which that it will certainly happen if you do not prevent it by your votes, I most confidently predict and vaticinate.
From The Casual Ward academic and other oddments by Godley, A. D. (Alfred Denis)
You enquire after Dante's Prophecy: I have not done more than six hundred lines, but will vaticinate at leisure.
From Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 4 With His Letters and Journals by Moore, Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
