Etymology Early 17th century, from Latin praedicō (“to mention beforehand”) (perfect passive participle praedictus), from prae- (“before”) + dīcō (“to say”). Equivalent to Germanic forespeak, foretell, and foresay.
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To make a prediction: to forecast, foretell, or estimate a future event on the basis of knowledge and reasoning; to prophesy a future event on the basis of mystical knowledge or power.
After he had renounced his fathers bishoprick of Valentia in Spaine... and to attaine by degrees the Maiesty of Cesar, was created Duke of that place, gaue for his poesie, Aut Cesar, aut nihil. which being not fauoured from the heauens, had presently the euent the same predicted.1590, E. Daunce, A Briefe Discourse on the Spanish State, section 40:
Professor Trelawney kept predicting Harry’s death, which he found extremely annoying.2000 July 8, J. K. Rowling [pseudonym; Joanne Rowling], “Mad-Eye Moody”, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter; 4), London: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 171:
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The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier.2012, Jeremy Bernstein, “A Palette of Particles”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 146:
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Usually, Of theories To imply.
It is interesting to see how clearly theory predicts the difference between the ascending and descending curves of a dynamo.1886, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 177. 338:
For both men and women, greater symmetry predicted a larger number of past sex partners.1996 June 3, Geoffrey Cowley, “The biology of beauty”, in Newsweek:
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To make predictions.
The devil can both predict and make predictors.1652, J. Gaule, Πυς-μαντια the mag-astro-mancer, 196
Etymology Early 17th century, from Latin praedicō (“to mention beforehand”) (perfect passive participle praedictus), from prae- (“before”) + dīcō (“to say”). Equivalent to Germanic forespeak, foretell, and foresay.
Or say with Princes if it shall go well, / By oft predict that I in heaven find.1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 14”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC: