Etymology

predict

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Today it means: To make a prediction: to forecast, foretell, or estimate a future event on the basis of knowledge and reasoning; to prophesy a future event on the basis of mystical knowledge or power. Full definition →

Latin praedicō
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The story

  1. Latin · borrowed frompraedicō“to mention beforehand”
  2. English todaypredict

Early 17th century, from Latin praedicō (“to mention beforehand”) (perfect passive participle praedictus), from prae- (“before”) + dīcō (“to say”). Equivalent to Germanic forespeak, foretell, and foresay.

Words from the same roots

Latinpraedicō all →

preach

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.