prophetess

noun

proph·​et·​ess ˈprä-fə-təs How to pronounce prophetess (audio)
: a woman who is a prophet

Examples of prophetess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Positioning Robin as an unheeded prophetess and an eventual participant in Ethan’s undoing is a smart way to explore the sexism of the media world at the time. Jesse Green, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 The words belong to Cassandra, the Trojan prophetess doomed to be disbelieved. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024 Hecuba, the queen, goes to the wily Odysseus; her daughter-in-law Andromache, Hector’s widow, to Achilles’ son, Pyrrhus; and her daughter Cassandra, a prophetess doomed never to be believed, to the victorious general Agamemnon. Daniel Mendelsohn, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2021 The [prophetess Deborah], for example, accompanies an army into battle. Jennifer Wollock, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2021 Toren, with nearly 400 titles to her name and several awards for narration, can sound like prophetess of trees. Jenni Laidman, chicagotribune.com, 7 May 2018 Classical mythology brings us the tale of the Sibyl of Cumae, a prophetess who bargains with Apollo for endless life, and centuries later comes to yearn for death. Joshua Max Feldman, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2018 Florence Houteff, considered a prophetess by the Branch Davidians, predicted April 22, 1959, as the rollout date of the Book of Revelation’s fire and brimstone. Kimberly Winston, USA TODAY, 20 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prophetess.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prophetesse, prophetisse, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin prophētissa, from prophēta, prophētēs prophet + -issa -ess

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prophetess was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near prophetess

Cite this Entry

“Prophetess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prophetess. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prophetess

noun
proph·​et·​ess ˈpräf-ət-əs How to pronounce prophetess (audio)
: a woman who is a prophet

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