Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “prophetesse” come from?

prophetesse (Middle English) comes from Old French prophetesse, from Latin prophetissa, from Latin prophēta, from Ancient Greek προφήτης, from Ancient Greek φημί, from Proto-Hellenic pʰā́mā, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-meh₂, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-.

prophetesse (Middle English): A female prophet; one who expounds upon a divine...

Definitions

  1. A female prophet; one who expounds upon a divine...

Ancestry of “prophetesse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchprophetesse—
2Latinprophetissaprophetess
3Latinprophēta—
4Ancient Greekπροφήτηςone who speaks for and interprets the will of a...
5Ancient GreekφημίI speak, say; I say yes, agree, affirm, assert
6Proto-Hellenicpʰā́mā—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-meh₂—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-—

Words derived from “prophetesse”

  • prophetess
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri- →