Middle English Dictionary Entry
prophē̆cī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | prophē̆cī(e n. Also prophecẹ̄, -pheceie, -phesi(e, -phicie, -phasẹ̄ & profeci(e, -fesi(e, -fici(e & propfeci & propheteie & (errors) prephecye, prophcie & prophecie; pl. prophecies, etc. & propheties. |
| Etymology | OF profecie, prophecie, prophesie, profesie, prophetie & L prophētīa; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The act of prophesying, inspired utterance; expounding of divine mysteries; prediction of future events; tellen (speken) ~, to prophesy; seien (speken) in ~, prophesy (sth.); don (maken) ~, make (one's) prophecy, prophesy; (b) an inspired utterance, an exposition of divine mysteries; a prediction; (c) divine inspiration; ability to understand or expound holy mysteries; ability to foretell the future; spirit (gost) of ~, prophetic faculty; a divine inspiration; (d) a prefigurement, foreshadowing, token.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)82/9 : Sein iuhan baptiste..in his iborenesse unspende his feader tunge in to prophecie.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)364/30 : After þe wissingue of seint phelip, alle heore lijf huy guonne lede, For prophesie and riȝtw[i]snesse huy heolden al þat he seide.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of ihu (Hrl 913)12 : Þe holi gost him taȝt ful welle, And he hit prechid for profecie.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.2 : Þis book among þise oþere bokes of þe newe lawȝe is cleped prophesie.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.4.14 : Nyle thou dispise..the grace of God that is in thee, that is ȝouuen to thee by prophecie, with puttynge to of hondis of prestis.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.421 : Siluestris Merlyn Tolde prophecie wel and fyn.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2967 : Thetis..hadde a Sone, and..sche..dradde for his sake Of that was seid in prophecie, That he at Troie scholde die.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)167a/a : Mount moria was a mount of reuelacioun..a mount of prophecie and of techinge.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7131 : Þogh y speke al yn prephecye [read: prophecye] ȝyf hyt ne be with charyte wroght..y am noght.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9196 : Þat time was prophet Ieremi Spekand in his propheci.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3342 : I have red & herd by prophesye Þat finally Troye þe cyte With-outen hym shal neuere wonne be.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2969 : All his wisdam and his profecye Of the Grekes was halden but folye.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)p.38 : Þe twey holy prophetes were Osee and Ysaie þilke time in Irael, and dude here prophecie.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)790 : Of Crist was seyde in prophecye, 'Thei schul worchep, Lord, þi steppis holye.'
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)116/138 : Nowe is fulfilled, for-suth, I see, Þat Abacuc in mynde gon mene and preched by prophicie.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)124 : Also the prophete Isaie Of Criste þat made his prophecie.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)60/92 : God bad me wryte in prophesye he wolde sende down his sprytt i-wys.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)147/38 : Balaam spak in prophecie, out of jacob xuld shyne a skye, many ffolke he xulde bye with his bryght blood.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)3360 : Þe prophetes þat mowen not lye By leute tellen her prophecie.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8575 : Hou Merlin doþ his maister Blays In boke writen saun faile Of Inglond þis meruaile And profecies and oþer þing Þat sum beþ passed and sum coming.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.199 : Ne hide nouȝth þe wordes of þe prophecie, for þe tyme is nere honde.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)7.10 : Numery..contene..þe misteryse of all þe hole craft of noumbrary and of þe prophecy of baalam.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Thes.5.20 : Nyle ȝe quenche the spirit; nyle ȝe dispise prophecies.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2612 : Thei tolden unto Micheas The manere hou that Sedechie Declared hath his prophecie.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7165 : When alle prophecyes are alle gone..þan lasteþ stedfast charyte.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1605 : Þis word was als a propheci [Frf: prophesy; Göt: prophessye] þat for-said was bi his merci, Of þe reut he siþen kydd Quen he to pin himselfen did.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.282 : A prophecie sais he salle die.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)821 : He sayde of hym þys professye, 'Lo Godez Lombe..Þat dotz away þe synnez dryȝe Þat alle þys worlde hatz wroȝt vpon.'
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4761 : Þi worde I holde for no prophesie, For it procedeth of verray trecherie.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1494 : She tolde ek alle the prophecyes [vrr. prophesies, profecy] by herte.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)45/4 : Summe seyn be here prophecyes þat a lord, a Prince of the west syde of the world, schall wynnen the lond of promyssioun.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)19/3 : And of þis false grounde sprynges errours and herysyes, false prophesyes, presumpcyons, and false rusynngs.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)98/5 : Prophecies [vr. proficies]..seide that þrough þat rauishing, Troye shoulde be distroyed.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2667 : At Protheus profesi þe pepull made noise.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)13364 : With A dart þor was he slayn, Þe propfecy [vr. prophecy] to fulfyll.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)l1 : A litill to fore he had red yn a prophesie that yn the self same yere the Kyng of Scottes shuld be slayne.
- c1475 Abbrev.Trip.SSecr.(UC 85)372/5 : And the profecies called man the litle worlde.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)99b : A proficy: prophesia, profescia, vaticinium.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)35/24 : Then was fulfillid a pprophesy that Merlynge Sayde.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.13.2 : If I schal haue prophesye and haue knowun all mysteries..if I schal not haue charite, I am noȝt.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.588 : The hyhe almyhti pourveance..hath his prophecie send..To Daniel of this matiere, Hou that this world schal torne and wende Till it be falle to his ende.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Giezi (Phys-E)p.131 : Bot his maister, thoru prophecye Wist al his ded and his gilrye.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3473 : Oure lauerd o suthfastnes Had don hir in to sikernes Thoru his werrai prophecie [Frf: prophase; Got: propheteye] Quat suld be þaa childer vie.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2810 : He hadde a spirit of trewe prophecye And cowde aforn ful opynly dyvyne Thyngges begonne, how they shuld fyne.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4171 : Some prudent man..myght hem most availle Thorgh mystery of his dyvynaylle By craft of sorte or of profecye.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1521 : 'Thow seyst nat soth,' quod he, 'thow sorceresse, With al thy false goost of prophecye!'
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.4 Kings (Cld E.2)2.9 : Elisee..axide that the double grace that was in Elie, that is, the grace of myraclis and the grace of profesie, schulde be in him.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.679 : Cirra the goddesse..grauntid hym..Duryng his lyff a sperit off prophecie.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)6/13 : Thei be in my thoughte In the spirit of prophecee.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)16/29 : Loo, seint Poule rekkeneþ here þe noblest vertues & werkis þat owen most to make men mede to wyn, as penaunce & martirdom..wisdom & prophecye & stidfast bileue.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2632 : Sho saide to cuthbert, 'Wele wate I, Þou hase þe spirit of prophecy; Gif þou will, þou may me wysse how lang þe kyngdome sall be hyss.'
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)57/3 : I Am þe prophete callyd Isaye..and sey pleynly be spyryte of prophecie þat a clene mayde thourgh meke obedyens Shall bere a childe.
- a1500 Leg.Cross BC(1) (Wor F.172)216 : Therfor Moises..toke vp tho roddis and with a spirite of prophecie cried: 'Verily, thiese iii roddis shewen the Holy Trynite.'
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1857 : The hound was tokne and prophecie That lich an hound he scholde die.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.32/7 : The blesside kyngdome of israel all was as it hadde be one proficye of cryste and of his chirche.
2.
(a) The body of scriptural prophecies of the Old Testament prophets; one of these prophecies; a passage from the Old Testament prophetic books; a scriptural passage viewed as having significance in regard to later events; thurgh ~, as foretold in Old Testament prophecy; (b) the Apocalypse; (c) the Old Testament lection of the Mass.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2382 : Alle þing mot neode beo yffolwed and ffolffuld al-so Þat in Moyses lawe and in opere prophecyes beoþ y-do.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)46/1292 : Ine þe alde laȝe þe redere Rede þe prophessye By wokke.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)2 Pet.1.20 : Ech prophecie of scripture is not maad bi propre..interpretacioun; Forsothe, prophecie is not brouȝt to bi mannus wille, but the holy men of God inspirid with the Holy Goost spaken.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.29 : And so by þe prophecie of Isay, þis grete storie is departed in seuene streemes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)129a/a : Þe preuylagis of þis day were offringe of crist..openynge and declaringe of holy writ, of prophecye fulfillynge of alle figures and bodyngis.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10961 : Now ys fulfylled þe prophecye Þat, sore wepyng, seyþ Isaye.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)151 : Crist com thoro propheci..his folk to bij.
- a1400 Cursor (Vsp A.3)990/383* : He..expounded þe prophetyes..Of alle thingez þat wore writene and sayd of him by-fore.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2237 : Here-of þe prophet Ieremy Spekes þus in his prophecy.
- a1425 Here begynnes a new (Roy 17.C.17)274 : Now es fulfylled the ald kynd, The prophece that God hym send To oure fadyre & to oure kynd.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1913 : On of hem boldly took on hande Danyeles profecies to expowne & teche.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)383/188 : Dauid..'Þat may þou in my sawter see For þat poynte of prophicie; I saide þat he schuld breke Youre barres and bandis.'
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1654 : Iaudas of ierusalem..Bringis out a brade buke..plant full of prophasys..Of þe doctrine of Daniell & of his dere sawis.
- a1475 PPl.B (Hrl 3954)3.234 : Þe prophece spekyth of þis in þe sautyr book.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)64/45 : A woman xulde bere cryst, þese profecyes haue we.
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)499/206-9 : Yet worthie werkis to youre will, off prophcie [read: prophecie] I will fullfill; As Danyell prophycied you till that londys I shulde devyse, that phrophecye [read: prophecye] it shalbe done that ye shall se right sone.
- a1500 Truth it (Cnt Add 68)p.71 : Kyng Herrowdes..dede seke up the propheceye.
- c1590(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64(2))58.16 : They sal be torned at even..This prophecy is of the iewes, that sal be turned til crist at even.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13450 : Iohn..O gosspellere he was þe ferth..Bot for propheci i dar noght sai Quere þis was þat ilk or nai.
c
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)324/1 : Þe bisshopp was att mes..and as he lenyd on þe altar, betwix þe prophesie & þe epistull, he fell on slepe; and þer was none at durste wakyn hym.
3.
The prophets of Israel taken as a group.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1308 : Nabugodenozar..þe pryce of þe profecie presoners maked.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)6/16 : Helye ys seyn to haue ben of more perfeccyon þan a monk and Iohn to haue receyuyd beforn-prophecye er he was born.
Note: Glossary: "beforn-prophecye, n. ability to foretell the future."
Note: New cpd. for 1.(c).
Note: ?This word, or bifore- pref., 3.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Pope Pelagius (GiL174) (Eg 876) 938/45 : Other saine that whanne thei shulde fight with the Wandelyens thei went to a man that had the sperit of prophete and praied hym to blesse hem and that he wolde praye that they might haue the victori.
Note: Glossary: "prophete n. 'prophesy'."
Note: New spelling.