prophet
/prophet/
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who speaks by divine inspiration: A prophet is someone who is believed to receive and communicate messages from a deity (God), often serving as an interpreter of divine will.
- A person who foretells the future: A prophet is also an authoritative figure who predicts or proclaims future events, often based on divine insight or special knowledge.
- A person who advocates a doctrine, cause, or principle: In a broader, often secular sense, a prophet can be someone who vigorously promotes a new idea, theory, or social reform.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- In the Bible, Isaiah is considered a major prophet. (Isaiah is recognized as a person who delivered divine messages.)
- The ancient prophet warned the king of impending disaster. (The seer predicted a future calamity.)
- He was a prophet of environmental conservation long before it became popular. (He was a pioneering advocate for environmental protection.)
Advanced Usage
- "A prophet of doom": A person who constantly predicts bad things will happen.
- The economist was dismissed as a prophet of doom for his pessimistic forecasts.
- "To be without honor in one's own country" (a prophet's fate): A reference to the idea that a prophet's insights are often rejected or unappreciated in their own community or time.
- Her innovative ideas were ignored at home; it was a classic case of a prophet without honor.
Variants and Related Words
- Prophetic (adj): Relating to a prophet or prophecy; accurately predicting the future.
- His warnings about the economic crisis proved to be prophetic.
- Prophecy (n): A prediction of the future, often one said to come from a divine source.
- The prophecy foretold the rise of a great leader.
- Prophesy (v): To predict or foretell a future event, especially by divine inspiration.
- The oracle was said to prophesy the fate of kings.
Synonyms
- Seer: A person of supposed supernatural insight who sees visions of the future.
- Oracle: (In ancient Greece) a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods; more generally, an authoritative or wise source of prediction.
- Visionary: A person with original ideas about what the future will or could be like (often secular).
- Soothsayer: A person who foretells future events.
Related Phrases
- Prophet's share: (Historical/rare) A portion or share claimed or taken by a prophet.
- School of the prophets: (Historical/Biblical) A group or community dedicated to the study of prophetic teachings.
Related Idioms
- A prophet is not without honor save in his own country: (Biblical idiom) Meaning that people often fail to appreciate the worth of someone familiar to them, like a local expert or family member.
- The scientist won awards abroad but received little recognition in his hometown—a prophet is not without honor save in his own country.
Noun
-
someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter of the will of God
-
an authoritative person who divines the future
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