[L. vātēs.]
1. A poet or bard, esp. one who is divinely inspired; a prophet-poet.
1625. Purchas, Pilgrims, II. IX. 1572. The people interjecting their applauses, clapping hands and running in to gratifie their Vates (Poet or Prophet) with a Present.
1687. Acc. Author’s Life, in Cleveland, Wks., Ded. A 7. And here again he was Vates in the whole Import of the Word, both Poet and Prophet.
1855. Lewes, Goethe, I. 251. The high and priestly office which he gave the poet, as a real Vates.
1878. C. Smith, Life John Wilson, xvii. 547. Each was the Vates of his countrymen.
2. pl. One of the classes of the old Gaulish druids. Cf. OVATE sb.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Druids, The Bardi were the Poets; the Vates … were the Sacrificers, and Naturalists.
1775. L. Shaw, Hist. Moray, VI. § 1. 227. Druid was the general name of the Sect or Order; and their Literati were divided into Priests, Vates, and Bards, who were their Divines.
1882–3. Schaff’s Encycl. Relig. Knowl., I. 668. According to function they were divided into classes—- bards, vates, and druids proper.
