soothsayer
nounUS /ˈsuθˌseɪɚ/ · UK /ˈsuːθˌseɪə/
Etymology From Middle English sothsaier, zothziggere, by surface analysis, sooth (“truth”) + sayer.
1
One who attempts to predict the future, using magic, intuition or intelligence; a diviner.
- It is a great pleasure to be with you today and to speak to you concerning the future of medicine. In so doing, I do not wish to pose as a soothsayer or crystal gazer.1951 March, John W. Cline, “The Future of Medicine”, in Northwest Medicine, volume 50, number 3, Portland, Ore.: Northwest Medical Publishing Association, page 165:
- The past twenty years have seen their share of soothsayers ready to predict with conviction one extreme or another of the alternative futures I have presented.1988, Shoshana Zuboff, In the Age of the Smart Machine, New York: Basic Books, page 7:
1 more example
- The doomsday prophet / Whose words have all come true / The naysaying soothsayer / So cynical and blue2025, Suzanne Vega, Gerry Leonard, “Speakers' Corner”, in Flying with Angels:
2
A mantis (Mantodea spp.)
3
Obsolete One who tells the truth; a truthful person.
4
A double dart moth (Graphiphora augur).
- Derived terms
- soothsay
- Related terms
- forsooth, prognosticator, seer, prophet