Definition: Prophecy

From New World Encyclopedia
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Etymology

From Middle English prophecie, from Old French prophetie, from Latin prophētīa, from Ancient Greek προφητεία or prophēteía (prophecy), from προφήτης or prophḗtēs (speaker of a god), from πρό or pró (before) + φημί or phēmí (I tell). Displaced native Old English wītgung.

Noun

prophecy (countable and uncountable, plural prophecies)

  1. A prediction, especially one made by a prophet or under divine inspiration.
    French writer Nostradamus made a prophecy in his book.
  2. The public interpretation of Scripture.

Derived terms

  • propheciographer
  • prophetation
  • propheticism
  • propheticly
  • prophetly
  • prophetocracy
  • prophetry
  • self-fulfilling prophecy

Related terms

Credits

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