pythoness

9.9

A woman who tells the future, like an ancient oracle

noun
/ˈpaɪθənɛs/

Archaic

: pitonisa

If I could only talk to the pythoness again, plead with her to have mercy and save me.

Examples

As for my being the pythoness—listen.

Fiction book (1995)
"You're the pythoness."

Fiction book (1995)
"I do not speak as a mother to a beloved daughter," the Lady said in a low voice, "but as the Lady of Wild Things to her pythoness."

Fiction book (1995)
Fetch the pythoness.

Fiction book (1995)
Venerated pythoness!

Fiction book (1995)
The villagers sought the guidance of the pythoness to learn about their future.
Many people traveled far to consult the local pythoness known for her wisdom and foresight.
The ancient texts often mentioned a pythoness who could predict events with surprising accuracy.

Synonyms

sibyl

vspythoness

Literature

7 9.9

A woman in ancient times who people believed could tell the future

applies to any woman with divination powers not only those from ancient times

prophetess

vspythoness

5 8.7

A woman who says a god tells her about the future

includes use of magic or divination rather than only claiming divine speech

python

vspythoness

Archaic

1 9.9

In old times, a person thought to speak for a spirit and tell the future

refers specifically to a woman regarded as witch or diviner rather than a spirit

Surface Forms

pythoness singular

pythonesses plural

Morphology

pythoness = python (opaque) = python + ess

Although formed from the noun 'python' plus the female suffix '-ess', the meaning 'prophetess/oracle' depends on a historical association with the Delphic Python rather than a literal 'female snake', so learners cannot derive the modern sense.

Etymology

Pythoness comes from python, the name of a great serpent in old Greek stories, and the feminine ending -ess which means a woman. So a pythoness is 'a woman who gives prophecies or has magical powers', which explains the modern meaning 'a female prophetess or oracle'.