This week’s theme
Illustrated words

This week’s words
zugunruhe
imbroglio
vaticinate

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(vuh-TIS-uh-nayt)

MEANING:

verb tr., intr.: To prophesy or predict.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin vates (prophet) + canere (to sing, utter). Earliest documented use: 1623.

NOTES:

Given the roots (prophet + sing), I’m imagining the weather forecast delivered as an opera. Everyday predicting is for weather people in front of green screens; vaticinating is for the Oracle at Delphi sitting on her tripod, inhaling vapors, and speaking in riddles.

USAGE:

“[Gene Youngblood] proceeds to vaticinate the creative and technological advances that will ensue.”
Thomas Beard; Cosmic Consciousness; Artforum (Los Angeles, California); Mar 2020.

See more usage examples of vaticinate in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: