prognostist

Prognostist is a noun for a person who makes prognostications, i.e., predictions or forecasts about future events. In contemporary English the term is rare and often regarded as archaic or literary, with more common alternatives such as prognosticator, forecaster, or prophet depending on context.

Etymology and related forms: the word derives from the Greek prognostikos, “foreknowing,” through Latin prognosticus, with the agent suffix -ist. It is related to the verb prognosticate and the noun prognostication, though prognostist itself is seldom used today.

Usage and contexts: historically, prognostist could describe someone who offers predictions in philosophy, literature, or popular discourse, including seers, astrologers, or scholars who discuss future outcomes. In medical or veterinary contexts, forecasts about disease outcomes are termed prognoses, and the practitioner is typically a clinician rather than a prognostist. In modern prose, the adjective form prognostic is common, and prognostication is used to refer to the act rather than the person.

Modern status: the term prognostist remains largely obscure in everyday use and is typically encountered only in historical, literary, or stylistic texts. When possible, writers substitute more common terms like prognosticator or forecaster, or, in medicine, refer to a prognosis given by a clinician.

See also: prognosis, prognosticate, prognostication, prognosticator, forecaster, prophet.