Clairvoyant

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌklɛəˈvɔɪ.ənt/

Definitions

1. A person who claims to perceive events or information beyond the range of ordinary sensory perception, or possessing such alleged supernatural ability to see or know things hidden from normal sight
2. Someone who professes the ability to gain knowledge of events or details inaccessible by ordinary means ; possessing the supposed skill to observe or understand things beyond the physical senses
3. An individual who asserts insight into hidden realities or future occurrences beyond typical perception ; characterized by the capability to sense phenomena not detectable through natural senses

Etymology: The word arrived in English from French, where "clairvoyant" was built from "clair" meaning "clear" and "voyant," the present participle of "voir," meaning "see." Put together, the French sense is literally "clear-seeing," someone whose sight is unclouded. English speakers took that image and applied it to the supernatural: a person who can perceive what lies beyond ordinary vision, especially events yet to come. The adjective and noun both carry that sense of seeing through what is hidden. The clear half of the compound does the work of describing sight that is not obstructed, while the seeing half supplies the act itself. Many English words of French origin keep this kind of transparent construction, so the meaning is visible in the parts even for speakers who have never studied French.

Synonyms: psychic, seer, medium, foreteller, prophet

Antonyms: skeptic, nonbeliever