Soothsayer
noun /ˈsuːθseɪər/ — One who speaks truth about the future — the ancient figure of the prophet.
Definition
A person supposed to be able to foresee the future; a prophet or seer.
Beyond the definition
The soothsayer carries the old English weight of its components: sooth (truth) + say (to speak). One who speaks truth. The original word wasn't about prediction — it was about someone trusted to say what was real. Prophecy as honesty, not magic.
Origin & history
From Old English sōth (truth) + secgan (to say). The truth-sayer. The compound reveals the medieval belief: the soothsayer's power was not mysterious calculation but access to truth others couldn't see.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
'Beware the Ides of March' — the soothsayer's warning to Caesar, famously ignored.
Every age has its soothsayers: they're called analysts and forecasters now, and they're ignored in much the same way.
She didn't need a soothsayer — she'd been paying close enough attention to read the signs herself.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Soothsayer” when the meaning fits your context: A person supposed to be able to foresee the future; a prophet or seer.
Synonyms
Antonyms
skeptic, agnostic
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Photographer anticipating a moment
An adult stands on a balcony, camera ready, catching the exact second when light hits a flower.
The photographer’s ability to foresee and prepare for the perfect moment is an analogy for a soothsayer, someone who predicts an upcoming, fleeting event before it occurs.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Soothsayer" mean?
Soothsayer is noun meaning: One who speaks truth about the future — the ancient figure of the prophet.. A person supposed to be able to foresee the future; a prophet or seer.
Where does the word "Soothsayer" come from?
From Old English sōth (truth) + secgan (to say). The truth-sayer. The compound reveals the medieval belief: the soothsayer's power was not mysterious calculation but access to truth others couldn't see.