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From python(“snake of the family Pythonidae”) + -ic(suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives from nouns).Python is derived from LatinPȳthōn, from Ancient GreekΠῡ́θων(Pū́thōn, “Python, mythical serpent which lived at Delphi”), from Πῡθώ(Pūthṓ, “Pytho, ancient name of Delphi; Python, the mythical serpent”) (probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European*dʰewbʰ-(“deep; dark (?); unclear (?)”) or *puH-(“foul, rotten”)) + -ων(-ōn, suffix forming possessives).
Macedonian: please add this translation if you can
Etymology 2
From Late Middle Englishphitonic, phithonice(“of a possessing spirit: oracular, prophetic”), from Medieval Latinphitōnicus, a variant of Late Latinpȳthōnicus(“of or pertaining to divination, prophetic; magical”), from Byzantine Greekπυθωνικός(puthōnikós), from Koine Greekπύθων(púthōn, “spirit possessing a person, especially one with the power of prophecy”) + Ancient Greek-ῐκός(-ĭkós, suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives).Πύθων(Púthōn) is derived from Πῡθώ(Pūthṓ, “Pytho, ancient name of Delphi; Python, the monstrous snake said to have been slain by Apollo at Delphi”) (see further at etymology 1) + -ων(-ōn, suffix forming possessives). In ancient times, Pytho, later Delphi, was the location of a Temple of Apollo where the high priestess, or Pythia, was a well-known oracle or prophetess.
1724, John Beaumont, “A Discourse of the Oracles Deliver’d at Delphos, and the Other Temples of the Gentiles; and of the Cessation of Them, both among the Jews and Gentiles”, in Gleanings of Antiquities., London: J. Roberts,, →OCLC, page 147:
And if it be his Opinion there vvas no ſuch Thing as a Pythonick Spirit, I vviſh he vvould read the Anſvver Father Baltus has vvrit to Mr. Fontenelle’s Book of Oracles,
Neither let there be found among you any one that ſhall expiate his ſon or daughter, making them to paſs through the fire: or that conſulteth ſoothſayers, or obſerveth dreams and omens, neither let there be any wizard, / Nor charmer, nor any one that conſulteth pythonick ſpirits, or fortune-tellers or that ſeeketh the truth from the dead.
1792, William Spence, “Concerning His Gracious Majesty’s Lately Distressing Illness, It’s Cause and Cure; with Some Account of Talking with Spirits, Magic and Magnetism”, in Essays in Divinity and Physic, Proving the Divinity of the Person of Jesus Christ, and the Spiritual Sense of Scripture:, London: R Hindmarsh, nd sold by H. D. Symonds,; and R. Faulder,, →OCLC, page 66:
he ſpirit from ſimilar affection favours the thoughts or principles of the man, The Pythonic ſpirits of old vvere ſuch, as alſo the Magi in Egypt and Babel, vvho vvere called vviſe men, on account of their talking vvith ſpirits, and plainly feeling their operation upon them.
A translation of a passage from Apocalypsis Revelata (Apocalypse Revealed, 1766) by the Swedish theologian and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772).
1858, Warren Goddard , “Summing Up and Application of the Evidence, and Conclusions Drawn therefrom”, in The Pythonism of the Present Day. The Response of the Ministers of the Massachusetts Association of the New Jerusalem to a Resolution of that Association Requesting Their Consideration of What is Usually Known as Modern Spiritualism., Boston, Mass.: George Phinney, , →OCLC, page 37:
There may be those who will here ask, Why are these necromantic or pythonic practices ever permitted? o those who know nothing of the Word, these evils may not be sins at all. To such, and for the same reason, the Pythonic oracles at Delphi, at Dodona, and at the temple of Ammon in Lybia, were means of good.
1919, W R Harris, “Demoniacal Possession”, in Essays in Occultism, Spiritism, and Demonology, St. Louis, Mo.; London: B Herder Book Co., →OCLC, page 137:
Here is what we read in Deuteronomy, Chap. XVIII: "Neither let there be found among you any one that … consulteth soothsayers … or pythonic spirits, or fortune tellers, or that seeketh the truth from the dead. For the Lord abhorreth all these things, and for these abominations he will destroy them."