Dictionary

seeress en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree English seer Late Latin -issader. Old French -essebor. Middle English -esse English -ess English seeress From seer + -ess.

Meanings

1. A female seer, soothsayer or diviner
   • Following the old pagan form she sits a moment upon him in token of surrender, like the Delphian seeress on Apollo’s tripod. After receiving the breath of his spirit, the sacrament of his love, she purifies herself with like formal solemnity. Thenceforth she is a living altar. 1863, Jules Michelet, La Sorcière: The Witch of the Middle Ages translated by Lionel J. Trotter:
   • From the numinous fire of fehu Frigg and Freyja receive their gifts as seeresses. 1989, Edred Thorsson, Runelore: A Handbook of Esoteric Runology, York Beach, Me.: S. Weiser, page 115:
   • As the seeress stood irresolute the tall young secretary half rose and whispered something in her ear. 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:

Forms

Translations (11)

is völva (a female seer) · sv sierska (a female seer) · es adivina (a female seer) · sv spåkvinna (a female seer) · ko 무당 (a female seer) · sv spågumma (a female seer) · cs věstkyně f' (a female seer) · cs vědma (a female seer) · da spåkone (a female seer) · fo vølva (a female seer) · ga banfháidh (a female seer)