English
prophet
Prophet comes from Latin prophēta ‘prophet, soothsayer’, and goes back to Ancient Greek προφήτης ‘one who speaks for a god’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπροφήτηςprophḗtēs‘one who speaks for a god’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprophēta‘prophet, soothsayer’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400prophete
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘a prophet’
- Englishtodayprophet
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπροφήτηςprophḗtēs‘one who speaks for a god’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprophēta‘prophet, soothsayer’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400prophete
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘a prophet’
- Englishtodayprophet
A compound of πρό ‘before’ + φημί ‘to tell’
Proto-Indo-European *pró ‘forwards, before’
Proto-Hellenic *pró
Ancient Greek πρό ‘before’
Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to speak, say’
Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂ti ‘to speak’
Proto-Hellenic *pʰā́mi ‘to speak’
Ancient Greek φημί ‘to tell’
Every English word from Ancient Greek προφήτης
Today it means
noun Someone who speaks by divine inspiration.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek προφήτης / prophet