prognostus

Prognostus is a rarely used term found in historical and philological writings. In those contexts, it refers to a person who makes prognostications or forecasts, akin to a prognosticator. The word is not part of standard contemporary English and is rarely encountered outside scholarly discussions of Latin or Greek sources.

Etymology and attestation: Prognostus appears to be formed from the same linguistic family as prognosis and prognosticate, drawing on Latin prognosticus or directly from Greek prognostikos (foretelling). In medieval and early modern texts, it may be encountered as a noun describing a seer, astrologer, physician, or other forecaster who offers predictions about events or disease outcomes. It is typically found in translations or glossaries rather than as a common lexical item.

Usage and status: Modern usage treats prognostus as largely archaic or niche, of interest primarily to linguists, historians, or editors dealing with classical sources. It is not employed in contemporary medical, scientific, or statistical language. When discussing forecasting in current practice, terms such as prognosis, prognostication, or prognosticate are preferred.

See also: prognosis, prognostication, prognosticate. Prognostus remains a scholarly curiosity, illustrating how the shapes of related words shift across time and linguistic registers.