Prophesy

Prophesy

Verb · /ˈprɒfɪsaɪ/ · to predict or foretell; to speak as a prophet

Definition

To prophesy means to predict or declare what will happen in the future — often with a sense of divine inspiration or extraordinary certainty. It also means to speak or preach as a prophet, delivering a message believed to come from a higher source. Note the spelling and pronunciation: prophesy (verb) ends in -sy and rhymes with sky; prophecy (noun) ends in -cy and rhymes with sea.

Origin

From Old French prophécier and Medieval Latin prophetizare, from Greek prophēteuein — to speak for a god — from pro (before, forth) and phēmi (to speak). The root phēmi also gives us fame, infant (one who cannot speak), and phone. To prophesy is literally to speak forth — to project a voice forward into time.