▪ I. prognostic, n.1
(prɒgˈnɒstɪk)
Also 5–6 pron-.
[ME. pronostike, -ique, a. OF. pronostique (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), mod.F. pronostic, ad. L. prognōsticon (-cum), a. Gr. προγνωστικόν a prognostic, n. use of neut. sing. of προγνωστικός: see next.]
1. That which foreshows or gives warning of something to come, or from which the future may be foreknown; a pre-indication, token, omen.
Originally applied to things supposed to be occult or supernatural, including many now known to be natural antecedents, as the meteorological signs of the weather.
| 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. xxxv. (MS. Digby 232) lf. 144/2 Þe Egle..Þat no thyng was but tokne of Tresoun, Pronostyke and declaracioun. 1471 Arriv. Edw. IV (Camden) 13 A goode pronostique of good aventure. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. ccxlvi, A great comete or blasyng starre, the which..with also the foresayde eclypce, they adiudged for pronostiquykys & tokens of the kynges deth. 1598 R. Barckley Felic. Man (1631) 177 Alexander received these gifts as a prognostick of his good fortune. 1657 W. Morice Coena quasi κοινὴ xix. 341 Winds..often..rise suddenly without any Prognosticks. 1716 Gay Trivia i. 122 From sure Prognosticks learn to know the Skies. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. III. xlix. 66 A great comet appeared about the time of her death, and the vulgar esteemed it the prognostic of that event. 1830 D'Israeli Chas. I, III. xiv. 321 Laud felt it as..the prognostic of his own doom. 1882 R. Abercromby in Nature 12 Oct. 572/2 In common parlance any particular ‘look’ of the sky is called a prognostic, and it is a natural extension of the idea to call the ‘look’ of the sky absorption spectrum a prognostic. |
2. A prediction or judgement of the future drawn from such an indication; a forecast, prophecy, anticipation.
| 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. I.) 225 When this young Lord came to Rome.. from the battaile of Prague, I can well witnesse..of the great Prognosticks all such gave of him. 1701 Earl of Clarendon in Pepys' Diary, etc. (1879) VI. 208, I could not but think it odd..that a man..should give such a prognostick. 1754 Richardson Grandison V. xliii. 274 Reflexion and Prognostic are ever inspiriting parts of the pretension of people who have lived long. 1815 Zeluca II. 285, I thank you for your inauspicious prognostics. 1884 H. D. Traill in Macm. Mag. Nov. 29/1 Every unpleasing phenomenon of our Parliamentary life supplies fresh material for these despairing prognostics. |
3. Med. A symptom or indication on which prognosis is based; † formerly also = prognosis.
| 1544 T. Phaer Regim. Lyfe (1560) N vj, Herein haue many wise phisicions..bene deceiued, and haue euil judged of the pacientes pronostik. 1621 Burton (title) The Anatomy of Melancholy, What it is, With all the kindes, cavses, symptomes, prognostickes, and severall cvres of it. 1753 N. Torriano Gangr. Sore Throat 71 Hippocrates..made a favourable Prognostic in the Squinancy, when the Humour of the Disease tended outwards. 1822–34 Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) III. 467 In forming our prognostic, a special regard must be had to the peculiar character of the disease. 1866 A. Flint Princ. Med. (1880) 108 Prognostics are those circumstances on which a prognosis is based. |
▪ II. prognostic, a. and n.2
(prɒgˈnɒstɪk)
[ad. med.L. prognōstic-us, a. Gr. προγνωστικός foreknowing, f. προγιγνώσκειν to know beforehand: see -ic. So mod.F. prognostique (Acad. 1835).]
A. adj. Characterized by prognosticating; foreshowing, foretelling, predictive.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch Explan. Words, Prognosticke, foreknowing and foreshewing: as the signes in a disease which foresignifie death or recovery. 1625 Hart Anat. Ur. i. ii. 24 There are..diuerse prognosticke signes foreshewing life or death. 1759 B. Stillingfl. Cal. Flora Pref. in Misc. Tracts (1791) 236 A digression about birds in relation to their prognostic nature. Ibid. 254, I have..marked the plants which appear to be most prognostic with an asterisk. 1851 Nichol Archit. Heav. 161 Movements of the leaves during a silent night, prognostic of the breeze that has yet scarce come. |
b. Med. Of or pertaining to prognosis.
| a 1648 Ld. Herbert Life (1886) 52 To have some knowledge in medicine, especially the diagnostic part..as also the prognostic part. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 120 The great prognostic importance of optic atrophy. |
† B. n. One who prognosticates; a foreteller of events. Obs. rare.
| 1653 Gataker Vind. Annot. Jer. 33, I might a litle question the skil of Mr. L. himself, and some of his felow Prognosticks, in that part of the Sideral Science. Ibid. 175 Those antiq Wizards as well..as our modern Prognostiks. |
▪ III. † progˈnostic, v. Obs.
Also 5–6 pron-.
[ME. pronostike, a. obs. F. pronostiquer (14th c. in Godef. Compl.) (ad. med.L. prognostic-āre (Duns Scotus, a 1308)), f. L. prognostic-um, or F. pronostique, prognostic n.1]
1. trans. = prognosticate v. 1, 1 b.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) viii. 29 Many oþer thinges þai pronostic and diuines by þe colours of þa flawmes. 1477 Sir J. Paston in P. Lett. III. 190 The worshypfull and vertuous dysposicion off hyr ffadr and moodr, whyche pronostikyth that..the mayde sholde be vertuous and goode. 1533 Bellenden Livy iii. xx. (S.T.S.) II. 30 He wald nocht pronostok [v. r. pronostik] nor devyne na sic harmes to cum on þame. 1559 Abp. Parker Corr. (Parker Soc.) 61 The adversaries have good sport..to prognostick the likelihood. 1659 H. More Immort. Soul iii. v. 379 When the Sun shines waterishly and prognosticks rain. |
2. intr. = prognosticate v. 2; in quot. 1541, to make a (medical) prognosis.
| 1481 Botoner Tulle on Old Age (Caxton) C iv b, They [old men] also remembre..how the augurys..sholde determyne and pronostike vpon the dyuinacions and thynges that be for to come. 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg. B ij, A Cyrurgyen..ought to be gentyll to his pacientes..wyly in prognostykynge. c 1580 J. Jeffere Bugbears v. viii. in Archiv Stud. Neu. Spr. (1897), Your daughter is well, even as I did pronostick. 1630 Prynne Anti-Armin. 280 The present tempestuous, rainie, vnseasonable weather threaten and prognosticke to vs for our apostasie. |