1 prognosticate | Definition of prognosticate
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prognosticate

verb
prog路​nos路​ti路​cate | \ pr盲g-藞n盲-st蓹-藢k膩t How to pronounce prognosticate (audio) \
prognosticated; prognosticating

Definition of prognosticate

transitive verb

1 : to foretell from signs or symptoms : predict
2 : to give an indication of in advance : foreshadow
Other Words from prognosticate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about prognosticate

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Other Words from prognosticate

prognosticative \ pr盲g-​藞n盲-​st蓹-​藢k膩-​tiv How to pronounce prognosticative (audio) \ adjective
prognosticator \ pr盲g-​藞n盲-​st蓹-​藢k膩-​t蓹r How to pronounce prognosticator (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for prognosticate

foretell, predict, forecast, prophesy, prognosticate mean to tell beforehand. foretell applies to the telling of the coming of a future event by any procedure or any source of information. seers foretold the calamity predict commonly implies inference from facts or accepted laws of nature. astronomers predicted an eclipse forecast adds the implication of anticipating eventualities and differs from predict in being usually concerned with probabilities rather than certainties. forecast snow prophesy connotes inspired or mystic knowledge of the future especially as the fulfilling of divine threats or promises. prophesying a new messiah prognosticate is used less often than the other words; it may suggest learned or skilled interpretation, but more often it is simply a colorful substitute for predict or prophesy. prognosticating the future

Did You Know?

Prognosticate, which comes from the Greek progn艒stikos (foretelling), first appeared in English during the 15th century. Since that time, prognosticate has been connected with things that give omens or warnings of events to come and with people who can prophesy or predict the future by such signs. Shakespeare used the prophesy sense of prognosticate in the sonnet that begins Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck:

"From thine eyes my knowledge I derive,
And constant stars in them I read such art
...of thee this I prognosticate,
Thy end is truth's and beauty's doom and date."

Examples of prognosticate in a Sentence

using current trends to prognosticate what the workplace of the future will be like

Recent Examples on the Web

 Models originally prognosticated that a wave of low pressure would throw a deck of cloud cover over the coastline. — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, "A total solar eclipse Tuesday will plunge a 6,800-mile path into midday darkness," 1 July 2019 When the zoo's most recent groundhog, Wynter, died in 2017, polar bear Snow Lilly performed the duties normally handled by a prognosticating rodent this past February. — Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Awwww! Milwaukee zoo announces arrival of adorable baby groundhog. And he loves broccoli.," 24 June 2018 Of course, prognosticating anyone鈥檚 future is a fool鈥檚 errand in the current administration, but looking at which Cabinet secretaries have been fired and why could provide a guide to Pruitt鈥檚 fortunes under Trump. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Why Trump would really, really rather not fire Scott Pruitt," 15 June 2018 According to the Free Press' prognosticating pair, the Cubs will take the division, but the rest is up in the air. — Dana Sulonen, Detroit Free Press, "MLB predictions: Choosing league winners, postseason teams and awards," 27 Mar. 2018 No one is really good at prognosticating鈥攊n the media or elsewhere鈥攁t least not for very long. — Jim Impoco, Newsweek, "The Beatles Suck. Yeah, We Said That," 3 Feb. 2014 This kind of information allows for better prognosticating their future production. — Jared Diamond, WSJ, "In a Tepid Free-Agent Market, Baseball Teams Still Need Relief," 5 Mar. 2018 Everyone seems to have an opinion: The National Restaurant Association surveyed more than 700 chefs and released its food forecast, the Food Network Kitchen's prognosticators prognosticated, and even hotels got in on the prediction action. — Katherine Lagrave, Cond茅 Nast Traveler, "Food Trends: What You'll Be Eating in 2018," 12 Dec. 2017 Nevertheless, faith in Tom Brady at home remains a near-absolute in my prognosticating canon. — Greg Cote, miamiherald, "Top game, big upset lead our parade of NFL Week 8 picks | Miami Herald," 26 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prognosticate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of prognosticate

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for prognosticate

prognosticate

transitive verb
prog路​nos路​ti路​cate | \ pr盲g-藞n盲s-t蓹-藢k膩t How to pronounce prognosticate (audio) \
prognosticated; prognosticating

Medical Definition of prognosticate

: to make a prognosis about the probable outcome of

Other Words from prognosticate

prognostication \ -​藢n盲s-​t蓹-​藞k膩-​sh蓹n How to pronounce prognostication (audio) \ noun

More from Merriam-Webster on prognosticate

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with prognosticate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prognosticate

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