soothsaying
|sooth-say-ing|
C1
/ˈsuːθˌseɪɪŋ/
foretelling future
Etymology
Etymology Information
'soothsaying' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'sōthsagu,' where 'sōth' meant 'truth' and 'sagu' meant 'saying.'
Historical Evolution
'sōthsagu' transformed into the Middle English word 'sothseyinge,' and eventually became the modern English word 'soothsaying.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'truth-telling,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'foretelling the future.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the practice or art of foretelling events or predicting the future.
The ancient art of soothsaying was often practiced by oracles.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/02/06 11:29