prophesy

[prof-uh-sahy] /ˈprɒf əˌsaɪ/
verb (used with object), prophesied, prophesying.
1.
to foretell or predict.
2.
to indicate beforehand.
3.
to declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration.
4.
to utter in prophecy or as a prophet.
verb (used without object), prophesied, prophesying.
5.
to make predictions.
6.
to make inspired declarations of what is to come.
7.
to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God's stead.
8.
Archaic. to teach religious subjects.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English; v. use of variant of prophecy (fully distinguished in form and meaning in the 18th century)
Related forms
prophesiable, adjective
prophesier, noun
unprophesied, adjective
Can be confused
prophecy, prophesy.
Synonyms
1. augur, prognosticate. See predict. 3. divine.
Examples from the web for prophesy
  • Some forms of disease, even, may prophesy forms of health.
  • As the doubters prophesy, their coalition could well fall apart long before then.
  • There was always prophesy in the weather at a birth.
  • The proof of scientific law is when you can prophesy from previous experience what will happen in the future.
  • If you had the gift of prophesy, maybe you could have saved more people.
British Dictionary definitions for prophesy

prophesy

/ˈprɒfɪˌsaɪ/
verb -sies, -sying, -sied
1.
to reveal or foretell (something, esp a future event) by or as if by divine inspiration
2.
(intransitive) (archaic) to give instruction in religious subjects
Derived Forms
prophesiable, adjective
prophesier, noun
Word Origin
C14 prophecien, from prophecy
Word Origin and History for prophesy
v.

mid-14c., prophecein, prophesein, from Old French prophecier (13c.), from prophecie (see prophecy). The noun and verb spellings were not fully differentiated until 18c. Related: Prophesied; prophesying.