Where does “prophecy” come from?
Prophecy derives from Middle English prophecie, from Old French prophetie, from Latin prophetia, from Ancient Greek προφητεία, noun form of προφήτης meaning "one who speaks for a god," from Proto-Indo-European pro- and bʰeh₂- meaning "to speak."
prophecy (English): A prediction, especially one made by a prophet or...
Definitions
- A prediction, especially one made by a prophet or...
Ancestry of “prophecy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | prophecie | A prediction or prophecy; a religious... |
| 2 | Old French | prophetie | prophecy |
| 3 | Latin | prophētīa | prophecy, prediction |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | προφητεία | the interpretation of the will of the gods:... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | προφήτης | one who speaks for and interprets the will of a... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | φημί | I speak, say; I say yes, agree, affirm, assert |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰā́mā | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂-meh₂ | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂- | to shine, glow light; to speak, say |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂-s-ri- | — |