prophesy

proph·e·sy

verb \ˈprä-fə-ˌsī\

proph·e·siedproph·e·sy·ing

Definition of PROPHESY

transitive verb

1

: to utter by or as if by divine inspiration

2

: to predict with assurance or on the basis of mystic knowledge

3

: prefigure

intransitive verb

1

: to speak as if divinely inspired

2

: to give instruction in religious matters : preach

3

: to make a prediction

— proph·e·si·er \-ˌsī(-ə)r\ noun

Examples of PROPHESY

1. The book claims that modern events were prophesied in ancient times.
2. <holy men were prophesying the coming of a new messiah>

Origin of PROPHESY

Middle English prophesien, from Anglo-French *prophecier, from Old French, from prophecie

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PROPHESY

Synonyms

augur, call, forecast, predict, presage, prognosticate, foretell, read, vaticinate

Related Words

alert, caution, forewarn, warn; bode, forebode (also forbode), portend, promise; anticipate, divine, foreknow, foresee; announce, declare, herald, proclaim

Near Antonyms

describe, narrate, recite, recount, relate, report, tell

See Synonym Discussion at foretell

Rhymes with PROPHESY

abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify