Middle English Dictionary Entry
prophē̆t(e n.
Entry Info
Forms | prophē̆t(e n. Also propheth, prophit, profet(e, proffet(e, profit(e, profiȝt, profiete; pl. prophetes, etc. & profhetes; pl. gen. prophetes, etc. & prophete, prophetene. |
Etymology | OF profete, prophete, profite & L prophēta, prophētes; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who speaks or prognosticates by divine inspiration; one who speaks, or claims to speak, in the name of God or another deity; a prophet, seer; an inspired teacher or expositor of holy mysteries; ?also, one of the privileged insane believed to possess divine inspiration [quot.: PPl.C]; (b) applied to Christ; (c) applied to Mohammed; (d) fals (pseudo) ~, a person who prophesies without divine inspiration or commission, or by inspiration of evil spirits; a person claiming divine authority for false or heretical pronouncements; the Antichrist; (e) an interpreter, a spokesman.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5195 : Helyas wass an haliȝ mann & an wurrþfull prophete.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)129 : Hie seiden, 'artu prophete?'
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)11/5 : 'Ich chulle schawi þe, mon,' seið þe hali Michee, godes prophete, 'Ich chulle schawi þe soðliche hwet is godd.'
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)31/54 : Þis false quene þat heued wuste..laste it were in ani time to þis bodie i-brouȝt And a rise fram deþe to liue and bi-come at þe laste A prophete ase he was er.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3674 : Ðo men god made wis..Prophetis he weren.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 9.9 : He forsoþe, þat to dai is seid a prophete, sum tyme was cleped seare.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 18.19 : Now send & gadere to me al israel in þi hil of carmel & þe prophetis of baal, foure hundrid & fifti, & þe prophetis of mawmete woodis, foure hundrid, þat etyn of þe boord of Jesabel.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 11.27 : Forsothe in thes daies prophetis camen ouer fro Jerusalem to Antiochie, And oon of hem, rysinge..signyfiede bi the spirit a greet hungir to comynge in al the roundnesse of erthis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.14.29 : Sothli prophetis tweyne or thre seye, and othere wysely deme.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.455 : Iohn Baptist was a verray prophete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2560 : Josaphat seith to the king Hou that he wolde gladly hiere Som trew prophete in this matiere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)16b/b : Archangels schewiþ þe gretter preuytees to prophetis, as þis: 'Ecce virgo concipiet'; & angelis schewith þe lasse, as þis: 'Episcopatum eius accipiat alter'.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1300 : He..Presented him þe presoneres in pray þat þay token..Þe pruddest of þe province and prophetes childer, As Ananie and Azarie and als Mizael.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.211 : Þese lewede knaues..cloþed hem in copes, clerkus as hit were, Oþer on of som ordre, oþere elles a prophete.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7093-4 : Suche ben the stynkyng prophetis -- Nys non of hem that good prophete is, For they thurgh wikked entencioun, [etc.].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)68a/b : Vates: a profyte or a poete.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)188 : God, in þe olde lawe, techiþ þat þe office of a prophete is to schewe to þe peple here foule synnys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)414 : Prophete: Propheta, videns.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)261 : All þe notis at I neuyn nobly I can, As any prophet a-perte, to proue ȝow þe sothe.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11846 : Kyng Iosaphat full sone hath he sent for prophettes, prestes, and dekyns dere, ffor dukes and erles.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)74/21 : As þe Psalme saith..'now is þere no profete for to telle us what schal befall.'
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)99b : A profite: propheta, prophetissa, vates, propheticus, vaticinus, vatidicus.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.13 : The prophetis and..haly prechours..ere liftid fra the erth in til contemplacioun and raynes down godis word till other.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)110/33 : Þe pepull heldyn hym a profyt.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)122/23 : For arystotle was a man of grete consaill..Wyse, sotille, humbile, euer lowynge ryght and verite, And therfor many men helde hym approphete.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)551 : Hee passes as a prophet prively þanne For Egipt till Ethiope.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Pilate (Hrl 2277)118 : Þe prophete..To deþe..hi brouȝte on þe rode þurf pilatus dome.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)515 : Jesu..was a prophete over alle; He seid tofore, what schuld byfalle.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)327/34 : Hopynge þerby þat myn oonly sone, profete of alle profetis, myȝte þe sonner drawe hem out of bondage.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)99 : Þer was a lede in our londe..Preued for a prophete..& born in Bethleem.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)2941 : Pylate asked..What þat his desyre was; 'Sire,' he saide..'Þe holy prophetes body, To byrie hit wiþ honestee.'
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)368/357 : The prophetis moder, mary, is ded.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)99b : A Profite..christus.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)62 : And thyr were any suche that wolde not here the wordes of þat prophete..he schuld be caste oute from amonge hys peple.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10204 : On suche a day i-borne shal be Þe verray prophete and dye on a tree.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.224 : No cristen prince wolde fayn Wedden his child vnder oure lawes swete That vs was taught by Mahoun oure prophete.
d
- a1275 Judas (Trin-C B.14.39)10 : Iudas, þou were wrþe me stende þe wid ston for þe false prophete þat tou bileuest upon.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)414 : Mony ffalse prophetes shulleþ arise.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.7.15 : Perceyue ȝe and flee fro fals prophetis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 13.22 : Fals Cristis and fals prophetis schulen ryse vp..to disceyue..ȝhe, the chosene.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)78b/a : Suche inpressioun & printinges [be] j-maad..somtyme by scorn and gileful juel spirititis, as it fareþ in fantastik & fals prophetis.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.99 : Thai..said that crist was fals prophet.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22415 : Fourti dais he sal [tham] yate, Þat fallen ar ute of þair state Thoru foluing o þat fals prophet, Þat þai mai þam wit penance bete.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4096 : They han lost..her false prophete and her dyuynour.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)10585 : A fals prophett þor wonnand was, þat had rewled all þat yll aray.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)418 : Men shulden not grete hem wiþ almes but fle fro hem as fro false prophetis.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)3584 : Of þise somme shal mete With þe comyng of þe false prophete.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)708 : Pseudo prophetes, false sodomytes, Quelmers of chyldren, with fornycatours..These were the comons came thedyr that day, Redy bowne in batayll Vertew to abyde.
e
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.7.1 : I haue ordeynd þe þe god of pharao, and Aaron, þi broþer, shall be þi prophete [L propheta; WB(2) Gloss.(Roy 1.C.9): that is, interpretour ether biforspekere].
2.
(a) One of the prophets of the Old Testament; one of the inspired foretellers of Christ; (b) sones of prophetes, the sons of the prophets; a prophetic order, or its members, under Elijah and Elisha; sone of ~, one of this order; patriarkes and prophetes, patriarkes prophetes and apostles, patriarchs, prophets (and apostles); (c) as an epithet in apposition to proper nouns: the ~, the prophet (Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.), (Elijah, etc.) the prophet; (d) a psalmist, esp. David; (e) a source to which is attributed various scriptural, exegetical, or proverbial writings; (f) pl. the Old Testament prophetical writings; (g) a representation of one of the Old Testament prophets.
Associated quotations
a
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)123 : Steorre he vas icleped muchel er he iboren vere [þu]rþ balames muþ, þe prophete.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)260 : Godess Gast itt haffde seȝȝd Þurrh hiss profetess tunge..Þatt Crist comm her to manne.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)79/19 : Of swilche sade godd ðurh ðe profiete..'Wa ȝeu ðe healdeð ȝeu seluen for wise!'
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)83/17 : 'Wa is me,' he seið, þe hali prophete, 'for ich am a mon of sulede lippen.'
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)116 : Þe prophetis..in godis laue iboden.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)215/19 : Crist solde bien i bore..ine ierusalem, for hit was swo i seid and be hote hwilem bi þo profetes.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)555 : Ðus fel adam ðurg a tre..After him prophetes alle, migte her non him maken on stalle.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)88/60 : Þe man þat healdeþ þys two Of charyte þe heastes, Al he folueþ þe lawe of gode, And prophetene gestes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)13/3 : Hit behouede þet alle wenten into helle and þere abyde, þe guode ine zikere hope þet iesu crist, godes zone, ssolde come, his deliuri be þet he hedde behote be his prophetis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 7.52 : Whom of þe prophetis han not ȝoure fadris pursued and han slayn hem that bifore teelden of the comynge of the iust?
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)246 : Ȝe han more of þe lawe þen prophetes hedden; Þei nedden bote þe holygost, and so ȝe han eke, and siþen, bodiliche, me, to ben at or wille.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1093 : Everyday His brethren mihten knowe and hiere, Of Moises on Erthe hiere And of prophetes othre mo What hem was best.
- a1400 Cursor (Vsp A.3)990/382* : Þus he told gode wone To þam first of moyses, and of þe prophetez ilkone, And expounded þe prophesyes.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.283 : A goode friday..a feloun was sauid..Sonnere hadde he saluacioun þanne seint Ion þe baptist Or adam or ysaye or any of þe prophetis.
- c1400 Wycl.LAChurch (Dub 244)p.xxx : Þat we ben vndir þe hundrid ȝeere of x lettre, I schewe..by Ioachim in þe book of þe seedis of profetis.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)43.388 : Be the Roses vndirstonde schalt þou here the holy prophetes that to-fore Crist were.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4403 : Oure lord..Of whom the proffet of prise plainly can say, Þere was no sterne in astate stode hym aboue.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)38 : As God seiþ bi þe profiȝt, 'I schal curse to ȝour blessing.'
- a1500 GRom.(Glo 42)752/13 : Þerfor says þe propheth, 'ffortis impegit in fortem, [etc.].'
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)65/6 : Speke þerfore not to me Moyses, ner non of þe prophetes; but speke þou raþer, lorde god.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)3 : Ure louerd ihesu cristes tocumes ben tweien openliche: þe fireste is gon, þo þe patriarkes and þe prophetes and oðre men þe waren bi þo dages after wisseden.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)115/10 : Haue rewðhe and milce of ðe wrecche Adames soule..and of ðine patriarches and of ðine profietes.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)30/273 : Ich iseh towart te patriarches & te prophetes..þet..aren nuðe i þet ilke lont of blisse.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)4 Kings 2.7 : Boþe þei [Elijah and Elisha] wentyn to gidere, & fifti men of þe sones of prophetis folewedyn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)4 Kings 6.1 : Seiden forsoþe þe sones of prophetis to helisee, 'lo, þe place in þe whiche wee dwellen be-forn þe streyt is to vs.'
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Amos 7.14 : Y am not a prophete; Y am not the sone of a prophete; but a neat heerde Y am.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.340 : Patriarkes and prophetes and poetes bothe Wryten to wissen vs to wilne no ricchesse.
- a1400 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Pep 2498)p.31 : By þe foure and twenty grete ben bitokned þe twelue Patriarkes & prophetes & þe twelue Apostles.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)39/16 : Jhesu Criste..drewe oute the good soulis of holi patriarkes and prophetis [vr. profhetes] that were in limbo.
- c1450 Form Excom.(3) (Dc 60)107/73 : Accorsen hem, patriarkes, prophetes and apostoles, and alle goddes disciples.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)88 : The sones of the prophetes askeden of Elysee where her fadyr Hely was become.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)102 : 'Telle on,' quod he, 'to the patryarches and the prophetys what thou herdest.'
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10296 : Seȝȝ us ȝiff þatt iss þatt tu arrt Helysew þe profete.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)47 : Leofemen, we uindeð in halie boc þet ieremie þe prophete stod in ane putte.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)43/4 : Hie folȝið Daniele, ðe hali profiete.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)85/22 : Hie..brohte forð ðine profiete, Samuel.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)95/844 : Crist..fedde hire ant þe tweolfdahes as he dude abbacuc, þe prophete.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)231 : Moyses, þe profete, ȝeode þare in londe to lede þat folk of Israel.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)948 : Holi writ..Spekeþ of þe profete Eliȝe.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)128/49 : Þe prophete ezechyel In hys boke hyt wytnesseþ wel.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.8.17 : He..helide alle hauynge yuel, that it shulde be fulfillid that thing that was said by Ysaie, the prophete, sayinge, 'He toke oure infirmytees, and bere oure sykenessis.'
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.100 : Thise been ye statuz of ye gylde of ye holy prophete Seynt Jon baptist.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)106 : Ne holde ȝe hit not for folye, For so seiþ þe prophete Ysaye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)160b/b : Þe whale þat swolowede Jonas þe prophete, his wombe was so huge þat it was y-nempnede as it were helle.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)12089 : Natan þe prophete forȝaue hys synne.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)94/3 : Men of Nynyue shullen rise in þe dredful dome and condempne þe Iewes, for þei diden penaunce in prechinche [read: prechinge] of Ione þe Prophet.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.4 : Þis Joon is he of whom it is seid bi Ysay þe profett, þat seiþ, 'Þer is a vois of Goddis word þat crieþ in desert'.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)70/18 : Fro þens..men gon..be the high hill of Effraim, where Elchana & Anne, the moder of Samuell the prophete, dwelleden.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)13965 : As þe prophet Ionas was iii days in þe se, So cryst in erthe here was bered be days thre.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13844 : Thys Ax..Made the prophete Helye.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)359/122 : He..sent Abbacuc with mete..to danyel the prophete.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)88 : Scrypture telleth vs how Hely the prophete was rauyssched yn-to hevene.
d
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)19/23 : Harkið hwat se haligast seið ðurh ðe profiete Dauið.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)127/17 : Clepe to him and seih mid ðe prophete:..'Hlauerd, opene mine eiȝene.'
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)33/6 : Alswa Bersabee, þurh þet ha unwreah hire idauiðes sihðe, ha dude him sunegin on hire, se hali king as he wes & godes prophete.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2820 : The prophete [vrr. prophet, prophit] seith that, bettre it is to been a good man and haue litel good and tresor than to be holden a shrewe and haue grete richesses.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)164b/b : Þe prophete seith þat þe dewe of hermon comeþ downe in to þe mounte syon.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5155 : Serue hym gladly..Þus techyþ vs Dauid þe prophete yn þe sautyr.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210)17/14 : As God scorned Adam in paradise, so Crist wol scorne at þe day of dome alle þat wol not folowe him, as þe Prophete witnesseþ in þe Secunde Psalme of þe Psauter.
- a1425 This blessyd boke (LdMisc 286)3 : This blessyd boke that here begynneth..Dauid sauter it is cald, a holy prophet and a kynge.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)370 : To crist þan may scho hir excuse In dome, apon þe dredful day And with þe prophet þusgate say: 'Iusticiam tuam!'
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)1112 : The profete bideth us pease for to enquere.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)203/33 : For as þe prophete seyþ..'he loued cursynge, and it shall com to hym.'
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.28.18a : Dauid þe prophete..seide, 'wiþ my voys I cried to god, and wiþ mi speche y bisouȝte oure lord.'
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)5.11 : The prophet couaitis noght thaire dampnacioun, bot he says that is at come.
e
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)49 : Þe prophete seið þet þe put ne tuneð noht lihtliche his muð ouer us.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)12/172 : Ha ne beoð of þe ilich bi hwam hit is iwriten þus þurh þe prophete þet ha in hare wurðinge as eaueres forroteden.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2891 : Therfore the prophete seith that troubled eyen han no cleer sighte.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)301 : Þe prophet sayd, 'þai trowed noght And groched.'
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)79/27 : To þis purpos þe prophete Sedechias seith that a king schulde nat suffre his sone hunte to myche ne be idill.
f
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14291 : Þa bokess þatt te Laferrd Crist Ȝaff gastliȝ tunnderrstanndenn, Þeȝȝ wærenn Moysæsess boc & Sallmsang & Profetess.
- c1300 SLeg.Pass.(Hrl 2277:C.Brown)2382 : In prophetes [Pep: Alle þing mot neode beo yffolwed and ffolffuld al-so Þat in Moyses lawe and in oþere prophecyes beoþ y-do].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 16.16 : The lawe and prophetis til to John; fro that tyme the rewme of God is prechid.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.22.40 : In these two maundementis hangith al the lawe and prophetis.
g
- (1466) Rec.St.Stephen in Archaeol.5044 : ij steyned clothes with the apostoll and the prophetes bettyn with golde with þe crede.
3.
(a) One who foretells the future, a prognosticator; (b) an inspired bard, secular ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)110/27 : Þeos beoð forecwidderes, hare ahne prophetes; þeos bodieð biuoren hu..ha schulen ham seolf grennin & niuelin..for þe muchele angoise i þe pine of helle.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2254 : The oule..prophete is of wo and of myschaunce.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.150 : And on this manere these dayis, the moste part of the people ben prophetis and tellen thinges þat ben to kome.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.13 : So saiþ þe prophete [Higd.(2): poete; L poeta] Satiricus, 'I fare as the whetston þat makeþ yren sharpe and kene.'
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)187a/a : Erroure of naciouns and dyte of seculer profytes [L secularium..poetarum], for godenesse of þe grounde, mened þat þis Ilondes ben paradys, and þat is errour.
4.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1220) CRR(2) 8271 : Willelmus le Profete.
- (1256) Pat.R.Hen.III498 : Roger le Prophete.
- (1284) Assize R.Lan.in LCRS 49194 : Brother Richard Profete.
- (1311) Court R.Colchester 123 : John Proffete.
- (1324) Court R.Lan.in LCRS 4170 : Henry Profet.
- a1400(1327) Court R.Ambree in Archaeol.Cant.29112 : Rogerus Prophete.
- (1433) Close R.Hen.VI250 : Richard Profet.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1500 Progn.Weather (Dgb 88)295 : Edras’ the profute sayth.
Note: New spelling