soothsay

English

Etymology

Formed as a back-formation from soothsayer or soothsaying,[1][2] equivalent to sooth +‎ say. Compare Old English sōþseċġan (“to say truly, declare”).

Pronunciation

Verb

soothsay (third-person singular simple present soothsays, present participle soothsaying, simple past and past participle soothsaid)

  1. (intransitive) To foretell the future; make predictions.

Noun

soothsay (plural soothsays)

  1. Soothsaying; prediction; prognostication; prophecy.
  2. A portent; an omen.

References

  1. ^ “soothsay, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
  2. ^ “soothsay, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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