Prophecy or Prophesy?

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Prophecy or Prophesy?

Should I write "prophecy" or "prophesy"?
  • "A prophecy" is knowledge of the future (from a divine source).
    • It was an accurate prophecy.
  • "To prophesy" means to predict the future (with divine inspiration).
    • He will prophesy the future of mankind.
prophecy or prophesy?
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Prophecy

The word "prophecy" is a noun. (The last syllable of prophecy is pronounced "sea.") A prophecy is "knowledge of the future," usually said to have come from a divine source.

Example sentences with "prophecy":
  • The prophet has revealed his latest prophecy in which three cities are razed to the ground.
  • On the second day of the course, we will study the prophecies of Nostradamus.
    • ("Prophecies" is the plural of "prophecy.")

Prophesy

The word "prophesy" is a verb. (The last syllable of prophesy is pronounced "sigh.") "To prophesy" means "to predict the future" - usually with divine inspiration.
PersonPersonal PronounConjugation of "To Prophesy"
First Person Singular I prophesy
Second Person Singular you prophesy
Third Person Singular he/she/it prophesies
First Person Plural we prophesy
Second Person Plural you prophesy
Third Person Plural they prophesy
The past tense and the past participle are "prophesied."

Example sentences with "prophesy":
  • He prophesies a great war between East and West.
  • He prophesied that a flood would cover the Earth.
    • (This is an example of "to prophesy" in the past tense.)
Beware


There is no such word as "prophesize" (or "prophesise" ).
  • He will prophesize the future of mankind.
    • (This should be "prophesy.")
  • He often prophesizes for money.
    • (This should be "prophesies.")
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? cannot or can not? who's or whose? What are nouns? What are verbs? List of easily confused words