Where does “soothsaying” come from?
soothsaying (English) comes from English saying, from English say, from English assay, from Middle English assay, from Anglo-Norman assaier, from Old French essai, from Late Latin exagium, from Latin exigō — to drive.
soothsaying (English): A method of foretelling the future
Definitions
- A method of foretelling the future
Ancestry of “soothsaying”, step by step
soothsaying traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English saying
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | saying | present participle of say; A proverb or maxim;... |
| 2 | English | say | To pronounce; To recite; To tell, either verbally... |
| 3 | English | assay | Trial, attempt; Examination and determination;... |
| 4 | Middle English | assay | Examining; investigation, looking into, research;... |
| 5 | Anglo-Norman | assaier | Alternative form of essaier |
| 6 | Old French | essai | trial |
| 7 | Late Latin | exagium | weight; weighing, testing on the balance;... |
| 8 | Latin | exigō | to drive out; expel |
| 9 | Latin | agō | to act, to behave |
| 10 | Proto-Italic | agō | drive; push, impel; do, act |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂éǵeti | to be driving |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eǵ- | to drive |
via English sooth
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sooth | Truth; Augury; prognostication; Blandishment;... |
| 2 | Middle English | sooth | — |
| 3 | Old English | sōþ | true, sooth; truth; true, actual, real |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | sanþ | true; truth |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | sanþaz | true, real |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁sónts | active participle of *h₁ésti; being, existence;... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁ēs- | to be |
via English soothsay
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | soothsay | To foretell the future; make predictions;... |
| 2 | English | soothsayer | one who tells the truth; a truthful person; one... |
| 3 | Middle English | sothsaier | — |