oracle

[ awr-uh-kuhl, or- ]

noun

1. (especially in ancient Greece) an utterance, often ambiguous or obscure, given by a priest or priestess at a shrine as the response of a god to an inquiry.
2. the agency or medium giving such responses.
3. a shrine or place at which such responses were given:

   the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.

4. a person who delivers authoritative, wise, or highly regarded and influential pronouncements.
5. a divine communication or revelation.
6. any person or thing serving as an agency of divine communication.
7. any utterance made or received as authoritative, extremely wise, or infallible.
8. oracles, the Scriptures.
9. the holy of holies of the Biblical Temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem.

oracle

/ ˈɒrəkəl /

noun

1. a prophecy, often obscure or allegorical, revealed through the medium of a priest or priestess at the shrine of a god
2. a shrine at which an oracular god is consulted
3. an agency through which a prophecy is transmitted
4. any person or thing believed to indicate future action with infallible authority
5. a statement believed to be infallible and authoritative
6. Bible
   1. a message from God
   2. the holy of holies in the Israelite temple

Word History and Origins

Origin of oracle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin ōrāculum, equivalent to ōrā(re) “to plead” + -culum diminutive noun suffix; oration, -cle ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of oracle¹

C14: via Old French from Latin ōrāculum, from ōrāre to request

Example Sentences

It’s not that I am any kind of oracle.

From Los Angeles Times

Oedipus may not have been able to outrun the oracle revealing that he would kill his father and marry his mother.

From Los Angeles Times

With the Season 25 episode focusing on soccer, “The Simpsons” creative team once again found itself inadvertently playing sports oracle, this time with a little drama.

From Los Angeles Times

And yet here it is, complete with nods to mysticism, as well as tarot and oracle art.

From Los Angeles Times

Oregon chain Powell’s Books reports them to be “top sellers” that have “stood the test of time” compared with most of the other oracle options on the shelf.

From Los Angeles Times