Middle English Dictionary Entry
prophē̆tesse n.
Entry Info
| Forms | prophē̆tesse n. Also prophetes(e, -as, -isse, -ise, -ice & profetesse. |
| Etymology | OF prophetesse, prophetisse & L prophētis & prophētissa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A woman who speaks or prognosticates by divine inspiration, prophetess, sibyl; -- also used of Persephone; (b) a female whose actions or words presage events; (c) a female attendant of Bacchus and celebrant of the Bacchanalia.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.18 : Þou suffrest a womman, Iezabel, þat seiþ þat she is prophetesse, forto techen & out drawen my seruantes to leccherie.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.15.20 : Mari, a prophetise, þe syster of aaron, toke a tympane in here honde, & all þe wymmen ȝeden-out after hyre with tympans & daunses.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 2.36 : And Anna was a prophetisse [WB(2): prophetesse; L prophetissa].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)165a/b : Also, in mounte effraym wonnede delbora, a womman þat was a prophetisse.
- a1400(?c1280) SLeg.Nativ.M&C (Stw 949)453 : 'Þis child,' seide Sybile þe prophetesse, 'on erþe is nou ybore.'
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)60a/b : Sibilla: a prophetes.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)55/7 : Þe prophetisse Debbora ouercome þe oste of Ydumee.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2300 : A pure prophetas aparaild in vailes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4412 : Ȝoure giltis growis of ȝour gods..Avise ȝow now be Venus, quat vertous him foloȝes..Dame Proserpyne, a prophetese of ȝoure praysid laȝes.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)369/21 : He callid Sybilla, þe prophetice, vnto hym.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.309 : Samos or Samias ys an yle, where Pythagoras the philosophre and also Sibille the prophetisse were borne.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)164/64 : 'Al heyl, symeon..Why make ȝe al þis myrth?'..'Anne, prophetes, and ȝe wyst whov, So xulde ȝe.'
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.15.97a : This day the good Symeon led with procession & Anna the profetesse, with a ful noble assemble.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1802 : He..seide how that was a presage Touchende unto that other..Of that fortune him scholde adverse..'For so my dowhter, prophetesse, fforwiþ hir litel houndes deth Betokneth.'
c
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)8b/b : Baca: a profetesse of god wyn.