prognostic

English

Alternative forms

• prognostical, (obsolete) prognostick

Etymology

From Medieval Latin prognosticus, from Ancient Greek προγνωστικός (prognōstikós, “foreknowing”), from πρό (pró) + γνωστικός (gnōstikós, “of or for knowing, good at knowing”), from γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō, “to learn to know, to perceive, to mark, to learn”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pɹɒɡˈnɒstɪk/, /pɹəɡˈnɒstɪk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /pɹɑɡˈnɑs.tɪk/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /pɹɔɡˈnɔs.tɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒstɪk

Adjective

prognostic (comparative more prognostic, superlative most prognostic)

1. Of, pertaining to or characterized by prognosis or prediction.

Synonyms

• foretelling
• predictive

Translations

Noun

prognostic (plural prognostics)

1. (rare, medicine) prognosis
   • 1935, T.S. Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Part I:

     There are several opinions as to what he meant
     But no one considers it a happy prognostic.

   • 1809, Bartholomew Parr, “PROGNOSIS”, in The London Medical Dictionary:

     The appearance of the tongue is closely connected with the sense of thirst, and is of considerable importance as a prognostic.

2. A sign by which a future event may be known or foretold.
   • 1710, Jonathan Swift, A Description of a City Shower:

     Careful observers may foretell the hour
     (By sure prognostics) when to dread a show’r.
     While rain depends, the pensive cat gives o’er
     Her frolics, and pursues her tail no more.

   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXIX, in Francesca Carrara. , volume II, London: Richard Bentley, , (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 305:

     It was even later than usual when the Comtesse quitted a brilliant réunion of all that was gayest in the royal circle, elate with the glittering triumph of gratified vanity, and reading in such success the sure prognostic of more solidly successful ambition.

3. A prediction of the future.
   • 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 11, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volumes (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:

     The choice of a successor was no light matter. That choice would inevitably be considered by the country as a prognostic of the highest import.

4. One who predicts the future.

Synonyms

• (sign): indication, sign, omen, foretelling, prediction

Related terms

• prognostatic
• prognosis
• prognosticable
• prognosticate

Anagrams

• topscoring

Middle French

Noun

prognostic m (plural prognostics)

1. prognostic (prediction about the future)

Descendants

• French: pronostic

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French pronostic.

Noun

prognostic n (plural prognosticuri)

1. prognosis (all meanings)

Declension