soothsayingn.adj.
/ˈsuːθˌseɪɪŋ/ A. n.
1. The practice of foretelling the future or the course of future events; prediction, prognostication.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > soothsaying > [noun]
spaeing?a1505
soothsaying1535
sooth1579
fatiloquy1623
ariolation1646
hariolating1655
hariolation1656
spae-craft1724
spae-work1815
soothsay1831
Sibyllism1875
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > soothsaying > [noun] > predictions made by
soothsaying1535
soothings1582
soothsay1582
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xxxiv. 5 Soythsayenge, witchcraft, sorcery, and dreaminge is but vanyte.
a1591 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 412 He used soothsaying and divination.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 652 Wonderfull skilfull in Sooth-saying by the Inspection of Beasts inwards.
1652 P. Heylyn Cosmographie iii. sig. Cccv Famous for South-saying, and accounted the first Interpreters of Dreams.
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. iii. 63 If the wise Men..did not daily produce some new Discoveries, 'twas evident the Price and Rate of Southsaying would come down to nothing.
1850 F. D. Maurice Moral & Metaphysical Philos. (ed. 2) I. 8 They practise magic and soothsaying: they are the advisers of the king.
1906 J. Orr Probl. Old Test. xii. 454 Such a view puts prophecy on a level with ‘soothsaying’.
2. An instance of this; a prediction or prophecy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > [noun] > a prediction or prophecy
prenostica1393
spaea1400
prognostication?a1425
prenostication?a1450
forespeaking1480
prenosticature1490
soothsaying1535
foredestiny?1549
foresaw1555
presage1560
abodement1565
prenotion1588
predict1609
prophetical1615
prognosis1649
conjectation1652
prognosticate1652
propheticism1684
prognostic1701
oracle1713
precantation1838
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Micah v. 12 All witchcraftes will I rote out of thyne hande, there shall no mo soythsayenges be within the.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xix. 134 The art magick, and all other sorts of southsayings.
1629 J. Gaule Distractions 120 At length [he] is content to yield to others Sooth-sayings before the Testimony of his owne Conscience.
1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Persian Wars i. 30 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian Hearkning to impious South-sayings, vainly foretelling to him the Imperiall dignity.
1864 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta 2009 Also for visions that were, And soothsayings spoken in sleep.
B. adj.
That acts the part of soothsayer; of the nature of, or characterized by, soothsaying. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > soothsaying > [adjective]
soothsaying1550
soothtell1582
Chaldaic1662
Chaldaical1678
Chalday1678
Chaldean1732
1550 W. Lynne tr. J. Carion Thre Bks. Cronicles f. xxiv Sibylla..signifieth..a prophetisse or southsayenge woman.
1637 J. Milton Comus 30 By scalie Tritons winding shell. And old sooth saying Glaucus spell.
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 280 It was a soothsaying divination, that provoked to doe the deed.
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. iv. 116 How much were it to be wish'd, that some of our Southsaying Wits, who are..neither wise Men or Southsayers [etc.].
1911 W. W. Fowler Relig. Exper. Rom. People xiii. 296 We hear..a great deal of wandering soothsayers, soothsaying families, and oracles.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.adj.1535