释义 |
prophesyv.Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: French prophecier ; prophecy n. Etymology: Partly < Middle French prophecier, prophesier to speak as a prophet (12th cent. in Old French), to predict or foretell (future events), to utter (prophesies) by divine inspiration (first half of the 13th cent.; < prophecie , prophesie prophecy n.), and partly < prophecy n. Compare Middle Low German profētien , profēcien , early modern German prophēzīen (first half of the 14th cent.; German prophezeien ). Compare also prophet v., prophetize v.The modern differentiation of prophesy as the standard spelling of the verb vs. prophecy as the standard spelling of the noun was not established until the 18th cent. Before c1700, both types are frequent as spelling variants of both the noun and the verb. With the pronunciation of the final vowel, with a long vowel in a syllable that does not bear the main stress, compare verbs in -fy suffix, and also multiply v. With forms in pre- compare discussion at pro- prefix2. 1. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > inspired prophecy > prophesy [verb (intransitive)] c1350 (Harl. 874) (1961) 186 (MED) Þe tuelue names writen bitokneþ..þe patriarkes & þe prophetes þat prophecieden er þapostles comen forto prechen. a1382 (Bodl. 959) Num. xi. 25 Þe lord coom doun by þe cloude..& whenne þe spirit hadde restyd in hem, þei profeciedyn [v.r. profecyden]. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. vii. 22 Many shul say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, whether we han nat prophecied in thi name, and han cast out deuelis in thi name?’ a1500 (?a1450) (Harl. 7333) (1879) 178 (MED) By the firste cokk that is slayne, vndirstonde prophetis, the whiche prophesied and tawte aȝenst synne. 1535 1 Sam. xix. 23 And ye sprete of God came vpon him [sc. Saul] also, and he wente & prophecied likewise before Samuel. 1582 Rev. x And he said to me: Thou must prophesy again to many nations, and peoples, and tongues, and kings. 1651 T. Hobbes iii. xxxii. 197 The Prophet that was sent to prophecy against the Altar. 1686 J. Scott II. vii. 658 He came down immediately from the Father to Prophesie to us. 1757 J. Bisset 6 Hosea prophesied many years, from some time in the reign of the second Jeroboam, to some years in Hezekiah's reign. 1774 W. H. Roberts II. vi. 81 Old men weep—Haggai prophesies—the work goes on. 1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. iii. in 199 During the pain Mnemosyne upheld Her arms as one who prophesied. 1880 R. G. White 304 I would..call upon the Furies to aid me while I prophesy against this new thing. 1911 XII. 479/1 I am not a professional or a voluntary Prophet, Amos practically said to Amasias, who wished to prevent him from prophesying at Bethel. 1958 C. Achebe vi. 42 Anyone seeing Chielo in ordinary life would hardly believe she was the same person who prophesied when the spirit of Agbala was upon her. 1988 S. Neeman tr. A. L. Eliav ii. 45 Hosea, Amos' young contemporary, was the last prophet to prophesy in the Kingdom of Israel before its destruction by Assyria. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > utter predictions [verb (intransitive)] a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 419 (MED) There were Merlyns tweyne, And prophecied alle beyne [L. Duo fuerunt igitur Merlini, ut conjicitur]. a1425 (?a1350) (BL Add. 32578) (1907) 1390 (MED) Dauid sayde..‘As I prophecyde ryght, A lorde of gret powere..at þes ȝhates nowe standes.’ ?c1450 tr. (1906) 90 (MED) Brun..was the quene of the whiche Sibille spake and profesied. a1500 (Harl. 149) (1974) 59 (MED) The prophetes prophecyed of my passyoun and of my resureccyoun. 1563 N. Winȝet (1888) I. 127 Quhare he [sc. St Paul] propheciis of the hæretikis, that suld forbid mariage. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. i. 262 Ouer thy wounds, now do I Prophesie,..A Curse shall light vpon the limbes of men. View more context for this quotation 1658 T. Bromhall i. 70 They sought counsel of them that prophesie of future things, by a Pythonick or divellish spirit. 1749 H. Fielding IV. xii. viii. 250 Partridge..with great Earnestness, began to prophesy, and assured Jones, that he would certainly have good Success in the End. View more context for this quotation 1817 P. B. Shelley ix. vi. 196 Half-extinguished words, which prophesied of change. 1898 19 May 11/1 ‘Never prophesy till you know’, is a safe American saying. 1942 E. Waugh i. 20 You know I'm the last man to prophesy rashly... There will be no air attack on London. 1995 4 June 19/2 Mr. Handelman may be wise not to prophesy too much. Russia is a moving target, and it moves quickly and unpredictably. 2. a. To predict or foretell, originally as an expression of the will or intent of God or a god. Also more generally: to utter or announce by divine inspiration. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > inspired prophecy > prophesy [verb (transitive)] 1372 in C. Brown (1924) 70 (MED) Þan was cumpliȝed Þat be-forn of ihesu crist was i-propheciȝed. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1969) Jer. xx. 6 Þou..shul gon in to caitifte, & in to babiloyne þou shalt come..& alle þi frendis to whiche þou propheciedest [v.r. profeciedist; a1425 L.V. profesiedist] lesing [L. quibus prophetasti mendacium]. c1400 (1840) p. xxix (MED) Þat þat is prophesied schal come. c1450 (?c1400) (Cambr. Ee.4.32) (1886) 36 (MED) Hit was þe same sterre þat was prophecied by balaam. 1481 W. Caxton tr. i. v. 24 Philosophres that..prophecyed the holy tyme of the comyng of ihesu cryste. a1500 (Harl. 149) (1974) 119 (MED) Yn thys wyse the holy prophetes tolden the holy tales that they had prophecyed. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay iv. viii. 119 b The first Sibille..prophesied the myracle of the fiue loaues and two fishes. 1629 J. Gaule 112 I haue prophesied the number, order, and euent of a Mysticall Pseuchomachie. 1652 E. Sparke (1663) 445 What here the angel annunciateth, Isaiah long before prophesied. 1722 D. Defoe 278 The famous Solomon Eagle the naked Quaker, I have mention'd, prophesy'd evil Tidings every day. 1781 W. Cowper 309 Sighing millions prophesy the close. 1814 W. Scott I. xxiii. 353 Thus did Flora prophesy a revolution, which time indeed has produced. View more context for this quotation 1889 ‘M. Twain’ xxiii. 287 Every time he prophecied fair weather it rained brick-bats. 1925 V. Woolf 151 These prophetic Christs and Christesses, who prophesied the end of the world, or the advent of God. 1967 113 566/2 The eventual integration of neurology and psychology has been prophesied on several occasions. 2000 No. 80. 47/1 The Mexica..migrated..for almost three hundred years before they saw the sign prophesied by Huitzilopochtli, an eagle consuming a serpent over a cactus. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xix. 16 Patriarkes & prophetes prophecyed bifore Þat alkyn creatures shulden knelen & bowen. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) John xi. 51 He prophesiede that Jhesu was to die for the folc. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll.) 568 Merlyon profecied that in that same place sholde fyght two the beste knyghtes that ever were in kynge Arthurs dayes. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. (1882–7) lxxxiv. 265 She prophesyed that my father..sholde wynne the batayle. 1588 T. Hariot sig. F2 Some woulde likewise seeme to prophesie that there were more of our generation yet to come, to kill theirs and take their places. 1616 6 Dauid prophesied, that hee should be a King. 1682 J. Dryden 7 For ancient Decker Prophecy'd long since, That in this Isle should Reign a mighty Prince. 1723 I. Ambrose iv. i. 169/2 Zacharius prophesied, That through the tender Mercy of our God, the Day Spring..hath visited us. 1743 A. Pope iii. 120 He prophesies how first the nation shall be over-run with Farces, Operas, and Shows. 1791 R. Burns 31 She prophesy'd that, late or soon, Thou would be found deep drown'd in Doon. 1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in I. 41 I prophecy you will not succeed, better than I have. 1842 Ld. Tennyson St. Simeon Stylites in (new ed.) II. 63 By the warning of the Holy Ghost, I prophesy that I shall die to-night, A quarter before twelve. 1887 T. Hardy II. vii. 120 Any observer would shrewdly have prophesied that whether or not she loved him as yet in the ordinary sense, she was pretty sure to do so in time. 1937 W. Lippmann iii. ix. 171 The market to-day cannot prophesy accurately..just where young men can profitably specialize for the next twenty years. 1983 G. Harris viii. 156 Marliann..prophesied that their parents would admire them, however badly they sang. 2003 May 97/3 One can nevertheless prophesy quite safely that it will have absolutely no impact on the culture of Venice itself. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prefiguration > prefigure [verb (transitive)] 1608 W. Shakespeare xxiv. 171 Me thought thy very gate did prophecie, A royall noblenesse. 1845 T. H. Chivers 32 A hopeful freshness lay upon its leaves, Which prophesied new joys. 1883 Feb. 441/2 April's bird, New England's poet laureate, blue-coated, flies before you prophesying spring. 1905 22 Apr. 4/2 The sky was sunny, but mottled in the north-west with ‘herring-bones’, which prophesied wind. 1956 J. Barth xxiv. 228 Harrison and I chatted for a few minutes about the weather, agreeing that the dull haze over the Bay prophesied a squall. 1992 K. Gabriel (1998) i. 22 If a duck flew over their hogan in a certain direction they'd think it prophesied a death in the family. society > faith > worship > preaching > preach [verb (intransitive)] > as Apostolic minister society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > inspiration or revelation > prophecy > prophesy [verb] c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Cor. xiv. 4 He that spekith in tunge, edifieth him silf; forsoth, he that prophecieth [L. prophetat], edyfieth the chirche of God. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Cor. xiv. 39 So, bretheren, loue ȝe for to prophecie [L. prophetare], and nyle ȝe forbede for to speke in tungis. a1425 (a1400) (1916) 1 Cor. xi. 4 (MED) For ylke man prayande or profecyande with þe hed veylyd, he defoulys his hed.] 1583 P. Stubbes sig. K5v It were good..that all could prophesie, that is, that all could preach, and expound the truth. 1607 S. Hieron Abridgem. of Gospell in (1620) I. 99 To prophecy, in Scripture, signifieth..secondly, exactly and soundly to interpret the Scripture; to which sense the word is often applyed in the New Testament. 1645 D. Featley Ep. Ded. sig. Bij They hold their Conventicles weekly in our chiefe Cities,..and there prophesie by turnes. 1771 J. Wesley (1872) V. 28 O that, as I prophesy, there might now be ‘a noise and a shaking’! 1832 E. Irving in Mrs. Oliphant (1862) II. v. 278 After I have preached, I will pause a little, so that then the prophets may have an opportunity of prophesying if the Spirit should come upon them. 1860 E. B. Pusey 128 Those sons and daughters of the sons of Zion, having received the Spirit, prophesied, i.e. in divers tongues they spake of the heavenly mysteries. 1964 37 86 When they prophesied like that it's really coming from the heart. When this takes place I guess you have no control over this. It just comes out. 1996 29 May 10/5 I have heard women preach (prophesy) powerfully, and there is no doubt in my mind that God has anointed them with the power of the Holy Spirit. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < v.c1350 |