prognostic

• prognostick (obsolete)

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”). Compare French pronostic (“prognostic”).

prognostic (comparative more prognostic, superlative most prognostic)

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

• foretelling
• predictive

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 prognosis.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Parr to this entry?)

2. A sign by which a future event may be known or foretold.

   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. Jonathan Swift

3. A prediction of the future.
   • Macaulay

     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.

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

• prognostatic
• prognosis
• prognosticable
• prognosticate

• topscoring

prognostic m (plural prognostics)

1. prognostic (prediction about the future)

• French: pronostic