pythoness

American  

[pahy-thuh-nis, pith-uh-] / ˈpaɪ θə nɪs, ˈpɪθ ə- /

noun

1. a woman believed to be possessed by a soothsaying spirit, as the priestess of Apollo at Delphi.

2. a woman who practices divination.

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pythoness British  

/ ˈpaɪθəˌnɛs /

noun

1. a woman, such as Apollo's priestess at Delphi, believed to be possessed by an oracular spirit

2. a female soothsayer

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Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of pythoness

1325–75; python ² + -ess; replacing Middle English phytonesse < Middle French

Example Sentences

Against this doom Genevi�ve Tabouis, ex-political pythoness of Paris' Leftist L'Oeuvre, for seven years waged a one-woman struggle, of which these memoirs are a record.

From Time Magazine Archive

The pythoness, seated on her tripod, rises slowly from it.

From Back to Methuselah by Shaw, Bernard

The pythoness, or priestess of Apollo, at his approach, hailed him as king of Corinth.

From Historic Tales, vol 10 (of 15) The Romance of Reality by Morris, Charles

The scene in the glen, the image of the unprepossessing and mysterious pythoness, and the substance and manner of the sinister warning she communicated, were indeed fixed in her memory ineffaceably.

From The International Monthly, Vol. II, No. I December 1, 1850 by Various

"Well, then," said Dorothy resignedly, drawing the golden head of the pythoness down until the small, pink ear was level with her lips, "if you must know, let me whisper."

From The President A novel by Lewis, Alfred Henry