English
prophesy
Prophesy comes from Old French prophetie ‘prophecy’, from Ancient Greek προφήτης ‘speaker of a god’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeh₂-‘to speak, say’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰéh₂ti‘to speak’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pʰā́mi‘to speak’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφημί‘to say’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπροφήτης‘speaker of a god’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπροφητεία‘the interpretation of the will of the gods: prophecy’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprophētīa‘prophecy, prediction’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400prophetie‘prophecy’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500prophecie‘prophecy’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500prophecien‘to prophesy’
- Englishearliest quotation 1591prophesy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰeh₂-‘to speak, say’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰéh₂ti‘to speak’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*pʰā́mi‘to speak’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφημί‘to say’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπροφήτης‘speaker of a god’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπροφητεία‘the interpretation of the will of the gods: prophecy’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprophētīa‘prophecy, prediction’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400prophetie‘prophecy’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500prophecie‘prophecy’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500prophecien‘to prophesy’
- Englishearliest quotation 1591prophesy
Earliest quotation: 1591, William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry the Sixt: “Then I perceive that will be verified Henry the…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to speak, say’
phone, focus, famous, fuel, ben, favor, favourite, ban, phase, professor, fate, fancy, fame, fantasy, fatal, bee, fairy, abandon, emphasis, photographer, infant, phenomenon, beacon, confession, beck, profession, confess, phantom, boon, symphony, fay, bane, foyer, banish, buoy, nefarious, epiphany, fantasia, bene, banal, 125 more
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂ti ‘to speak’
Today it means
verb To speak or write with divine inspiration; to act as prophet.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- / prophesy