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

"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

It was the young Schiller, wild as a pythoness upon her tripod, with the Robbers, which became famous in the following year.

From The Last Leaf Observations, during Seventy-Five Years, of Men and Events in America and Europe by Hosmer, James Kendall

At some time in the past she seems to have been also a pythoness: the spirits of the gods possessed her and spoke through her lips.

From Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation by Hearn, Lafcadio

Dora stood in the center of the room like an enraged pythoness, her eyes blazing with passion.

From The Man Between, an International Romance by Barr, Amelia Edith Huddleston