‖ vates
(ˈveɪtiːz)
[L. vātēs.]
1. A poet or bard, esp. one who is divinely inspired; a prophet-poet.
| 1625 Purchas Pilgrims II. ix. 1572 The people interjecting their applauses, clapping hands and running in to gratifie their Vates (Poet or Prophet) with a Present. 1687 Acc. Author's Life in Cleveland Wks. Ded. A 7, And here again he was Vates in the whole Import of the Word, both Poet and Prophet. 1855 Lewes Goethe I. 251 The high and priestly office which he gave the poet, as a real Vates. 1878 G. Smith Life John Wilson xvii. 547 Each was the Vates of his countrymen. |
2. pl. One of the classes of the old Gaulish druids. Cf. ovate n.
| 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Druids, The Bardi were the Poets; the Vates..were the Sacrificers, and Naturalists. 1775 L. Shaw Hist. Moray vi. §i. 227 Druid was the general name of the Sect or Order; and their Literati were divided into Priests, Vates, and Bards, who were their Divines. 1882–3 Schaff's Encycl. Relig. Knowl. I. 668 According to function they were divided into classes—bards, vates, and druids proper. |