| 释义 |
▪ I. soothsay, n.|ˈsuːθseɪ|
Forms: 6 sothsay, 6–7 southsaye, 6, 9 soothsay, 6 -saye.
[Back-formation from soothsayer or soothsaying vbl. n.: cf. prec. Also written as two words and occas. with hyphen.]
†1. A true or wise saying; a proverb, saw. Obs.—1
1549Latimer Sev. Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 97 An old soth say, but thoughe the sayinge be none of the newist I feare me yet is it one of the trwest.
2. A prediction, prognostication, or prophecy; an omen or portent.
1582Stanyhurst æneis iv. (Arb.) 96 O the superstitions of beldam trumperye sooth says. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. ix. 51 Shewes, visions, sooth-sayes, and prophesies. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 219 Those foretelling Southsayes..which without question were knowne unto this Madoc. 1641Brightman Predict. 2 Merlin,..whose South-saies (for so they called them in old time) have proved true even to these latter dayes. 1870Rossetti Poems, House of Life vii, They told me she was sad that day, (Though wherefore tell what love's soothsay, Sooner than they, did register?).
b. Without article. (Good) omen; soothsaying, prognostication. rare.
1590Spenser F.Q. iii. viii. 50 Aye me,..the signes be sad, And but God turne the same to good soothsay, That Ladies safetie is sore to be drad. 1831tr. Tieck's Old Man of Mountain, etc. 246 Do not you seem to know everything, or else to have learnt it by soothsay?
▪ II. ˈsoothsay, v. rare.
Also 7 southsay.
[Back-formation from soothsayer or soothsaying vbl. n. Cf. OE. sóðsecgan to say or speak truly.]
intr. To make predictions, to foretell future events; to predict, prophesy. Also with it.
1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. i. ii. 52 Go you wilde Bedfellow, you cannot Soothsay. 1611Cotgr., Diviner, to diuine, presage, soothsay it. 1652Gaule Magastrom. 226 Wherefore suffumigations are wont to be used to them that are about to southsay, for to affect their fancy. 1736Ainsworth Lat. Dict. ii, Vero,..to soothsay, as wisards, and wise women do. 1850Blackie æschylus II. 160 Even he soothsaying sings that the Argive camp Holds midnight council to attack the city. 1877Daily News 19 Oct. 6/3 The next fortnight may therefore be pregnant with news, good or evil to the Turkish cause—who will soothsay? |