Vaticinal

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /vəˈtɪsɪnəl/

Definitions

1. Relating to or characteristic of prophecy or prediction, especially of a formal or authoritative nature
2. Associated with prophecies and predictions that are authoritative in nature
3. Connected with making predictions or foretelling future events

Etymology: "Vaticinal" is the adjectival form of "vaticinate," and the chain behind it runs through Latin. The Latin root "vaticinari" meant to prophesy or foretell, and it was built from "vates," a word for a seer or inspired poet. Writers in English took the adjective to describe anything that predicts the future, whether a prophet's utterance or a forecast of events. The adjective carries the same meaning as its verb relative, so a vaticinal remark is one that foretells what is to come. The word belongs to a small group of English terms that keep Latin prophetic vocabulary alive for readers who want a more formal alternative to "prophetic."

Synonyms: prophetic, divinatory, oracular