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DictionaryprophesyPredict future events
verb

prophesy

PRAH-fuh-sy/ˈprɑːfəsaɪ/

To foretell future events with confidence or inspiration.

The seer prophesies the bridge's collapse before it happens.

A text-free two-panel sequence shows a seer predicting the collapse of an intact bridge, followed by the matching event.
Etymology
prophesyOld Frenchutter prophecy

Old French profeciier was formed from the noun for prophecy: it meant performing the act of inspired utterance. English prophesy includes foretelling future events through such claimed inspiration.

In context

Gnostic Informant15:03
That I might prophesy of things to come and things that were and tell them unto men.
Oracular Utterances of Greek Hexameters | The Sibyl | Ammon Hillman

More examples

  • She claimed to prophesy events that had not yet occurred.
  • The old man prophesies a disastrous winter.
  • They listened to the prophet prophesying before the crowd.

Forms

prophesy · prophesies · prophesied · prophesying

prophecy noun — an inspired prediction

Similar words

predict
Predict need not involve divine inspiration; prophesy often carries a religious claim.
foretell
Foretell announces future events; prophesy more strongly evokes a prophet or inspired revelation.