soothsay (v.)

"foretell the future, make predictions," c. 1600, back-formation from soothsayer. Compare Old English soðsecgan "say or speak truly," soðsagu "act of speaking the truth," and verbal phrase secgað soð; also compare soothsaw, Middle English sothesawe, and Old Norse sannsaga. As a noun from 1540s, "a true or wise saying." Related: Soothsaid; soothsaying (1530s).