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Prescience Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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prescience

[ˈprɛsɪəns ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

ability to predict the future

Prescience is the supernatural ability to know what will happen in the future before it actually occurs. It is often associated with psychic powers or divine intervention.

Synonyms

clairvoyance, foresight, prophecy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
prescience

Prescience is used when someone has knowledge about events before they happen. It implies an almost scientific or analytical ability to predict the future.

  • His prescience about the stock market saved his company from financial disaster.
  • The scientist's prescience allowed her team to prepare for the upcoming natural disaster.
foresight

Foresight is the ability to predict or plan for future events based on understanding and reasoning. It is practical and often used in planning and decision-making contexts.

  • His keen foresight helped the company navigate through difficult times.
  • With great foresight, she invested in green technologies early on.
clairvoyance

Clairvoyance is often used in a mystical or supernatural context. It refers to the ability to gain information about an object, person, or event through extrasensory perception.

  • The fortune teller claimed she had the gift of clairvoyance.
  • Her clairvoyance was widely regarded as the reason for her accurate predictions.
prophecy

Prophecy usually has a religious or mythic connotation. It involves a message or prediction made through divine inspiration or revelation.

  • The ancient texts contained a prophecy about the return of the lost king.
  • The prophecy foretold the fall of the empire.

Examples of usage

  • The old woman's prescience allowed her to foresee the outcome of the battle.
  • Many believe that the prophet's prescience helped to prevent a disaster.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Literature

  • Many authors like H.G. Wells and Philip K. Dick have used the concept of prescience to explore themes of fate and free will in their works.
  • In Shakespeare's plays, characters often demonstrate foresight, hinting at events yet to come, showcasing prescience in dramatic storytelling.

Psychology

  • Some psychological theories suggest that people with strong intuition can exhibit a form of prescience, relying on subtle cues in their environment.
  • Studies have shown that people often credit gut feelings with predicting outcomes, which can be a manifestation of subconscious recognition.

Pop Culture

  • In many movies, characters with prescience can see glimpses of the future; think of characters like the Oracle in 'The Matrix'.
  • Comic book heroes, like Destiny from 'The Sandman' series, possess the ability to foresee the future, making prescience a popular theme in fantasy.

Science

  • While prescience as a supernatural ability doesn't exist, scientists often rely on predictive models to foresee future trends in climate, economics, and health.
  • Forecasting in meteorology uses historical data to predict weather patterns, a practical approach to understanding future events.

Origin of 'prescience'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from Latin 'praescientia', which means 'foreknowledge', combining 'prae-' (before) and 'scire' (to know).
  • It dates back to the early 17th century, reflecting a time when predicting the future was often linked to religion and philosophy.

The word 'prescience' comes from the Latin word 'praescientia', which means 'foreknowledge'. The concept of prescience has been a part of human culture and folklore for centuries, with many ancient civilizations believing in the ability to predict the future. In literature and mythology, characters with prescient abilities often play key roles in shaping the course of events.

See also: conscience, geoscience, science, scientific, scientist, scientists.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,744, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.