Studying Russian history and culture can be difficult because of the abundance of colorful words and expressions. They seem familiar, their meaning is somewhere on the verge of understanding, but sometimes it is not possible to fully understand the essence of a particular term without outside help. Many have read the story of Prince Oleg and wondered: what does "prophetic" mean? What meaning did the authors put into this concept, and what meaning did the people mean?
In search of etymology
First you need to get rid of illusions! Despite the obvious consonance, “broadcast” is just a homoform. It has nothing to do with the definition under study and breaks down into meanings:
- talk;
- announce.
And it means that "prophetic" goes back to another verb. And they are "know" in the interpretation of "know". Related concepts from East Slavic languages are:
- wise;
- experienced;
- prophet;
- witch.
And yet, the emphasis in decoding is on a non-mystical component. This “title” could be given to a person whose words and actions organically fit into the outline of future events. As if they were anticipating them. Therefore, in the first, poetic meaning, we have equally:
- foresight;
- sharp.
Sometimes the word "prophetic" turns from a person's ability into a characteristic of an object or phenomenon, for example:
- B. hand, V. gaze, V. strength, V. gift - peculiar to a person with the gift of foresight;
- B. a dream is like an object that contains a prediction.
Daily use
To hear something like that today in everyday life is quite difficult. Unless you are fond of esotericism and do not conduct regular revisions of dreams, signs and other indications of changes in fate. The term bookish with poetic overtones. Appropriate when the speaker needs to capture the attention of the audience. And a few centuries ago you would have been told that "prophetic" means:
- smart;
- knowing;
- knowledgeable.
This interpretation is considered obsolete, contemporaries do not resort to it at all. Because of what the sacramental story about Prince Oleg is perceived not quite correctly. After all, readers pay attention to the name, but do not understand the unexpected prefix to the name at all. Although it was only about military talents, the outstanding mind of the ruler.
Use in the 21st century
Should the term be included inlexicon? The question is rhetorical: most interlocutors will not understand what “prophetic” means in the context of conversations on everyday topics. Instead of a lofty style and a qualitative assessment of a person's knowledge and skills, they are likely to think about the speaker's love for the interpretation of dreams and for magical practices. How do you like this development? Compare the pros and cons, and exclude the concept from official communication without fail.
