predict

English Online Dictionary. What means predict‎? What does predict mean?

English

Alternative forms

• prædict (archaic)

Etymology

Early 17th century, from Latin praedīcō (“to mention beforehand”) (perfect passive participle praedictus), from prae- (“before”) + dīcō (“to say”). Equivalent to Germanic forespeak, foretell, and foresay.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɹɪˈdɪkt/
• Rhymes: -ɪkt

Verb

predict (third-person singular simple present predicts, present participle predicting, simple past and past participle predicted)

1. (transitive) To make a prediction: to forecast, foretell, or estimate a future event on the basis of knowledge and reasoning; to prophesy a future event on the basis of mystical knowledge or power.
2. (transitive, of theories, laws, etc.) To imply.
3. (intransitive) To make predictions.
   • 1652, J. Gaule, Πυς-μαντια the mag-astro-mancer, 196

     The devil can both predict and make predictors.

4. (transitive, military, rare) To direct a ranged weapon against a target by means of a predictor.

Synonyms

• foretell, forespell, forespeak, halsen

Antonyms

• retrodict

Related terms

Translations

Noun

predict (plural predicts)

1. (obsolete) A prediction.

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “predict”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Middle French

Verb

predict

1. past participle of predire