prognosticate

verb

prog·​nos·​ti·​cate präg-ˈnä-stə-ˌkāt 

prognosticated; prognosticating

transitive verb

1

: to foretell from signs or symptoms : predict

2

: to give an indication of in advance : foreshadow

prognosticative

präg-ˈnä-stə-ˌkā-tiv 

adjective

prognosticator

präg-ˈnä-stə-ˌkā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

Prognosticate, which ultimately traces back to the Greek word prognōstikos (“knowing beforehand, prescient”), first appears in English during the 15th century. Since that time, prognosticate has been connected with things that foreshadow events to come and with people who can prophesy or predict the future by such signs. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley used the “prophesy” sense of prognosticate in her Gothic horror novel Frankenstein as Victor Frankenstein writes of his feelings upon approaching Geneva: “I wept like a child. ‘Dear mountains! my own beautiful lake! how do you welcome your wanderer? Your summits are clear; the sky and lake are blue and placid. Is this to prognosticate peace, or to mock at my unhappiness?’” Other English words stitched together from prognōstikos that you may be familiar with include the nouns prognostic and prognosis, which also have senses related to foretelling. Prognostic can mean “prophecy,” while prognosis—used often in medical contexts to refer to the prospect of a patient’s recovery—can also mean “forecast.”

Synonyms

• augur
• call
• forecast
• foretell
• predict
• presage
• prophesy
• read
• vaticinate

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

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

That hasn’t stopped our stalwart insiders from viewing them and preferentially voting in 10 Oscar categories (most points for most likely, or most hoped for, to succeed) for your prognosticating pleasure. —Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024

Relying on polls and the prognosticating reputation of their Washington correspondent, editors announced the victory of Republican New York Gov. Thomas Dewey over the incumbent president, Democrat Harry S. Truman. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024

That comes on the heels of the stock’s biggest single-day gain since May 2011, as shares leapt 22% in Thursday trading after the company’s earnings report smashed analyst forecasts for third-quarter profits and Musk prognosticated up to 30% vehicle delivery growth in 2025. —Derek Saul, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Still, there were some smart folks who prognosticated Hutchinson as the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. 17a. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pronosticaten "to make a prediction, make a prognosis, portend," borrowed from Medieval Latin pronōsticātus, past participle of prognōsticāre, pronōsticāre "to predict, forecast, portend," derivative of Late Latin prognōsticum prognostic entry 1

Note: Compare Middle French pronostiquer, formed directly from the Medieval Latin verb.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

prognosticate

verb

prog·​nos·​ti·​cate präg-ˈnäs-tə-ˌkāt 

prognosticated; prognosticating

: predict, prophesy

prognosticator

-ˌkāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

prognosticate

transitive verb

prog·​nos·​ti·​cate präg-ˈnäs-tə-ˌkāt 

prognosticated; prognosticating

: to make a prognosis about the probable outcome of

prognostication

-ˌnäs-tə-ˈkā-shən 

noun