prognosticator
(prɒgˈnɒstɪkeɪtə(r))
Also 6 pron-, -our(e.
[Agent-n. in L. form from prognōsticāre to prognosticate: see -or. So OF. pronosticateur (15–16th c. in Godef.).]
One who or that which prognosticates; one who pretends to a knowledge of the future; a soothsayer, predictor, foreteller.
| 1552 Huloet, Pronosticatoure, præsagus. 1553 Brende Q. Curtius iv. 46 He obeied the pronosticator & caused all his men to returne. 1560 Bible (Genev.) Isa. xlvii. 13 Let now the astrologers, the starre gasers, & pronosticatours stand vp, and saue thee from these things. 1604 Middleton Father Hubburd's T. Wks. (Bullen) VIII. 60 Averring no prognosticator lies, That says, some great ones fall, their rivals rise. 1796 Burke Regic. Peace iv. Wks. IX. 29 Mr. Brothers..was a melancholy prognosticator, and has had the fate of melancholy men. 1852 S. R. Maitland Ess. Var. Subj. 207 To speak of Merlin and a train of less important prognosticators. 1891 Pall Mall G. 22 Sept. 3/3 A sensitive, living prognosticator, like the ‘Abrus precatorius’, is preferable to the inanimate barometric weather gauges, on account of the vital force which dwells in it. |
† b. A maker or publisher of almanacs containing predictions of the weather and events of the ensuing year; also, an almanac containing these.
| 1601 J. Chamber Agst. Judic. Astrol. 2 Astrologers, prognosticators, almanack-makers. 1696 Tryon Misc. iv. 99 Our Annual Prognosticators are generally Men of little Learning. 1778 W. H. Marshall Minutes Agric., Observ. 130 Almost every supposed Prognosticator has contradicted itself. |