A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375-1663
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Prophet(e, -fet(e, n. Also: pre- and -phett, -pheit, -phit, -phyit; -feit, -fit(e, -fyte; proffet, -eit. [ME and e.m.E. prophete (c1175), -fiete (c1200), -phet (a1300), proffet (c1400), profyt (a1450), -fete, -fett, F. prophète (11th c. in Littré), L. prophēta (prophētēs), a prophet, soothsayer, f. the Gk.]
a. One who speaks, or claims to speak, for a deity. Also transf. 1281 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 279.]
[Willelmo Prophetaa. (1) a1400 Legends of the Saints x 565.
Of Dauit … He mad a prophet til hym dere a1400 Ib. xxxvi 7.
Prophete c1420 Wynt. i 21.
The prophet [W. proffeit] Ysay c1490 Irland Asl. MS 52/26.
Proffettis a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1687.
Ane hird a king, a propheit makis he 1513 Doug. vi i 8.
Delyus, the prophet divyne c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2581.
The peruerst prophetis of Baall 1562-3 Winȝet I 58/23.
That tha ar nocht send as trew prophetis be God it sal be … cleir c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 157.
The appostilis and propheits a1578 Pitsc. I 410/13.
His prophett Malachie(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints vii 547.
Gyf thu be profyte Quhy wald thu nocht lat thir men wyt [etc.] a1400 Ib. xxvii 17.
Na profet, quhat-euir he be, Is accept in his cunctre a1400 Ib. xiii 72.
Profete a1400 Ib. xxxvi 243.
Profit c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv 45.
Profeitis 1641 Mure Caledon's Complaint 169.
Profite(c) ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 25.
Prepheit(2) a1450 Fifteen Ois 242.
For, as the propheit sayis but weir [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I 7/9.
Tharfor commandis … the prophet that [etc.] 1584 Melvill 179.
That wa quhilk the profit pronunces against sic as does the wark of the Lord negligentlie(3) 1456 Hay I 10/26.
For the prophetis callit him angel or he was borne 1490 Irland Mir. I 55/19.
As … the apostilis, martiris, virginis, prophetis and mony vthire 1596 Dalr. I 154/10.
Be mony prophesies of the ald and ancient propheitestransf. a1578 Pitsc. II 64/3.
I haue also red in the prophit Malachie [etc.]
b. spec. A preacher or expounder of God's word. Cf. Prophecying vbl. n.Applied sometimes to John Knox (by Winȝet, ironically).(1) 1562-3 Winȝet II 36/20, 21.
Gif ony techear in the Kirk, he being a prophet also in the interpreting the mysteriis of the prophetis, attemptis [etc.](2) 1562-3 Winȝet I 27/32.
The arrogant temeritie of ȝour half prophete Iohne Knox 1562-3 Ib. 29/22. 1573 Davidson Satirical Poems xl 313.
This propheit plane 1600-1610 Melvill 26.
That maist notable profet and apostle of our nation, Mr. Jhone Knox
c. Applied to Muhammad. c1420 Wynt. v 5668.
Gret Machomete, That Sarracenys thaire prophete Held 1528 Lynd. Dreme 219.
Machomete that propheit poysonabyll 1663 Nicoll Diary 398.
I … throgh the grace of God and throgh the merites of our propheit … Generall of … the Turkis
d. One who foretells the future; a prognosticator. 1511 Treasurer's Accounts IV 315.
Be the kingis command … to Liddaill, the prophet c1515 Asloan MS I 250/23.
The prophet Merlyne of Brettane 1535 Stewart 46936.
Ane propheit … Hecht Thomas Leirmonth … Quhilk Thomas Rymour callit wes for scorne 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 99/6.
Consulte thairfore uith na necromancer, nor prophete upon the successe of youre uarris 1614 Aberd. Council Lett. I 120.
I feare I be over trew ane prophyit
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"Prophet n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/prophete>
