prognostes

Prognostes is a term of ancient Greek origin used to designate a person who makes prognoses or forecasts of future events. The word derives from Greek prognōstēs, from pro- “before” and gnōsis “knowledge,” and is often rendered in English as “forecaster” or “one who gives a prognosis.” In classical and medical literature, the prognostēs is the agent who provides a verdict about likely outcomes before they unfold.

Historical usage: In ancient Greece and the Hellenistic world, prognostes could refer to physicians who offered prognosis of disease outcomes, as well as seers, astrologers, or other forecasters. Philosophers and doctors sometimes distinguished between a diagnostic assessment (what is happening now) and a prognosis (what is likely to happen). In Latin and later English sources, the term appears primarily in scholarly discussions of ancient medicine and divination.

Modern usage: In contemporary English, the more common term is prognosis or prognosticate; prognostes as a standalone noun is largely found in linguistic or historical contexts. The term is chiefly of interest to scholars studying Greek language, medical history, and the culture of forecasting. See also prognosis, prognostication, prognosticate, seer, oracle.