Soothsaying: meaning, definitions and examples

Historical Origins

• The word 'soothsayer' originates from Old English, where 'sooth' means truth and 'sayer' means one who speaks.
• Ancient cultures, such as the Romans and Greeks, consulted oracles and seers for guidance on important decisions.
• In ancient Norway, soothsaying was practiced using runes, which are characters from a historical alphabet, believed to hold magical properties.

Cultural Significance

• In many indigenous cultures, soothsayers, often referred to as shamans, played crucial roles in communication with the spiritual world.
• The practice has been represented in literature, ranging from Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', where witches predict fate, to modern-day tarot card readers.
• Folklore often depicts soothsayers as mysterious figures with the ability to see beyond the present, adding an element of intrigue to their character.

Psychology

• People often seek prophecies or forecasts as a way of coping with uncertainty in life, which can provide comfort and clarity.
• Research shows that belief in fortune-telling can reflect deeper psychological needs such as a desire for control over the future.
• The placebo effect can sometimes apply to soothsaying, whereby the belief in a prediction influences a person's behavior or mindset.

Modern Interpretation

• Contemporary soothsaying includes methods like astrology, tarot reading, and palmistry, which have gained popularity in mainstream culture.
• Many people use social media for 'psychic readings,' merging technology with traditional practices to reach a wider audience.
• The portrayal of soothsaying in movies and TV shows often exaggerates abilities but reflects society's enduring fascination with the unknown.

Literature

• Characters who practice soothsaying appear throughout literature, often serving as foreshadowing devices or harbingers of fate.
• In 'The Iliad', Achilles consults a soothsayer for guidance, demonstrating the importance of such figures in ancient storytelling.
• Dante Alighieri's 'Divine Comedy' includes references to soothsayers and their place in the afterlife, highlighting moral consequences of their practices.

Ranking #38,428, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

• ...
• 38425 depilatory
• 38426 cakewalk
• 38427 exotically
• 38428 soothsaying
• 38429 gosling
• 38430 tooted
• 38431 carjacking
• ...