Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “prophecy” come from?

prophecy (Middle English) comes from Middle English prophecie, from Old French prophetie, from Latin prophētīa, from Ancient Greek προφητεία, from Ancient Greek προφήτης, from Ancient Greek φημί, from Proto-Hellenic pʰā́mā, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-meh₂.

prophecy (Middle English): Alternative form of prophecie

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of prophecie

Ancestry of “prophecy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishprophecieA prediction or prophecy; a religious...
2Old Frenchprophetieprophecy
3Latinprophētīa—
4Ancient Greekπροφητείαthe interpretation of the will of the gods:...
5Ancient Greekπροφήτηςone who speaks for and interprets the will of a...
6Ancient GreekφημίI speak, say; I say yes, agree, affirm, assert
7Proto-Hellenicpʰā́mā—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-meh₂—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
10Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri- →