oracle

plural oracles

1. A shrine dedicated to some prophetic deity.

   The oracles are dumb; / No voice or hideous hum / Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving.

   1629, John Milton, “On the Morning of Christs Nativity”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC

2. A person such as a priest through whom the deity is supposed to respond with prophecies or advice.

   Synonyms: prophet

3. A prophetic response, often enigmatic or allegorical, so given.

   The several oracles included in this haftarah presumably were uttered at different times to the people in exile, presenting diverse themes and using distinct styles.

   2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 94

4. archaicfigurativelySomething said that must come true or cannot be countermanded; an inexorable command or declaration.

   Fight all couragiouſly and be you kings, I ſpeake it, and my words are oracles.

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii

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   Shee ſtiles her ſelfe their Chiefe, and ſweares ſhee will command; / And, what-ſo-ere ſhee ſaith, for Oracles muſt ſtand.

   1612, Michael Drayton, “The Second Song”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes] for M[athew] Lownes; I[ohn] Browne; I[ohn] Helme; I[ohn] Busbie, →OCLC, page 29

5. A person considered to be a source of wisdom.

   a literary oracle

   2 more examples

   oracles of mode

   1847, Alfred Tennyson, “(please specify the page number, or |part=Prologue, I to VII, or conclusion)”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

   The country rectors […] thought him an oracle on points of learning.

   1856 December, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “Samuel Johnson”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871, →OCLC

   Synonyms: expert

6. A wise sentence or decision of great authority.
7. A fortune-teller.

   "Madame de l'Hôpital has been quite la fée bienfaisante" said Lauzun, who, like others, had been consulting the oracle. "I am bewildered by my future good fortune. I quite anticipate being married, if it is to bring me all that she predicts."

   1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter V, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 46

8. One who communicates a divine command; an angel; a prophet.

   God hath now sent his living oracle / Into the world to teach his final will.

   1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 1

9. JewishhistoricalThe sanctuary, or most holy place in the temple; also, the temple itself.

   Siloa's brook, that flow'd / Fast by the oracle of God.

   1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

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   And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Kings 6:19

10. computingA theoretical entity capable of answering some collection of questions.

    Thus, an oracle machine (which enacts an oracle algorithm) would be like an ordinary Turing machine, except that adjoined to its ordinary computational operations would be another operation: ‘Call in the oracle and ask it whether C_q(n) stops; […]

    1994, Roger Penrose, “Quantum theory and the brain”, in Shadows of the Mind, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 380

11. businessA third-party service that provides smart contracts with information from the outside world.

    For example, an oracle may send temperature data reported by the National Weather Service or report the daily LIBOR rate to a smart contract.

    2020, Daniel T. Stabile, Kimberly A. Prior, Andrew M. Hinkes, “Smart Contracts”, in Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology, Edward Elgar Publishing, →ISBN, page 223

present singular third person oracles · participle present oracling · participle past oracled · past oracled

1. obsoleteTo utter oracles or prophecies.

   But this thy glory shall be soon retrench'd; No more shalt thou by oracling abuse The Gentiles; henceforth Oracles are ceast

   1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   Primarily seen as a publicity vehicle for late-year releases, the awards show and its promoters have lately made pretensions to Oscar oracling: Jamie Foxx won the “breakthrough actor of the year” prize for “Ray” in 2004, after all, and Paul Haggis and his ensemble cast were honored for “Crash” four months before it won best picture.

   2006 October 18, David M. Halbfinger, “Hollywood Film Chain’s Latest Link”, in New York Times

1. computingA database management system (and its associated software) developed by the Oracle Corporation