soothsayer

[ sooth-sey-er ]

noun

1. a person who professes to foretell events.

soothsayer

/ ˈsuːθˌseɪə /

noun

1. a seer or prophet

Word History and Origins

Origin of soothsayer¹

First recorded in 1300–50, soothsayer is from the Middle English word sothseyere, sothseyer. See sooth, say ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Plenty of social media soothsayers are claiming that no one will want to go back to theaters now that they’re used to streaming big new releases at home.

From Time

There’s a moment in Act I of Macbeth when Banquo, upon meeting the soothsayer witches, speaks, of, gasp, the B-word.

From Fortune

No wonder they were often considered bad omens: no soothsayer could tell when one might appear.

From The Daily Beast

It's at a time like this that Germans yearn most for Paul the Octopus, the great mollusk soothsayer for Germany.

From The Daily Beast

A soothsayer warned Julius Caesar about the Ides of March—a catastrophe looming in the middle of the month.

From The Daily Beast

But soothsayer Simon Cowell, who created and judges the show, saw the future.

From The Daily Beast

The italicized phrase isn't exactly a hallmark of the sort of hubristic soothsayer Abrams seems to describe.

From The Daily Beast

In the midst of the way there arose a woman of Ireland, that clept herself as a soothsayer.

From Project Gutenberg

Last night I dreamed a dream; and it needs no wise man, no cunning soothsayer, to read the interpretation thereof.

From Project Gutenberg

Charmian, addressing Alexas in a flattering manner, asked where was the soothsayer he praised so much.

From Project Gutenberg

Louis received a similar reply from a soothsayer, who had foretold the death of one of his favourites.

From Project Gutenberg

Greatly incensed, he arranged for the death of the soothsayer when he should leave the royal presence after an interview.

From Project Gutenberg