oracle

/ˈɔrəkəl/

/ˈʌʊrəkəl/

Other forms: oracles

Back in ancient times, an oracle was someone who offered advice or a prophecy thought to have come directly from a divine source. In modern usage, any good source of information can be called an oracle.

In his Apology, Plato claims that the oracle at Delphi played a vital role in the career of the philosopher Socrates, and a Delphic prophecy sets the tragedy of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex in motion. The word oracle can also be used to describe the utterances of a seer or anyone else who is pretty darn good at predicting the future.

Definitions of oracle

1. noun

   a shrine where an oracular god is consulted
   examples:

   Oracle of Apollo

   (Greek mythology) the oracle at Delphi where a priestess supposedly delivered messages from Apollo to those who sought advice; the messages were usually obscure or ambiguous

   type of:

   shrine

   a place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person
2. noun

   an authoritative person who divines the future
   synonyms: prophesier, prophet, seer, vaticinator

   types:

   augur, auspex

   (ancient Rome) a religious official who interpreted omens to guide public policy

   prophetess

   a woman prophet

   sibyl

   (ancient Rome) a woman who was regarded as an oracle or prophet

   type of:

   diviner

   someone who claims to discover hidden knowledge with the aid of supernatural powers
3. noun

   a prophecy (usually obscure or allegorical) revealed by a priest or priestess; believed to be infallible
   type of:

   divination, prophecy

   a prediction uttered under divine inspiration