[ad. L. vāticinātiōn-, vāticinātio, n. of action f. vāticinārī: see prec. Cf. obs. F. vaticination (Cotgr.).]
I. A prediction of an oracular or inspired nature; a prognostication or prophecy, a prophetic utterance or forecast.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1198. Sibylla, and Aristonice, or such as published their vaticinations and prophesies in verse.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, III. 63. The Law has appointed a sort of Prophets as Judges over these divine Vaticinations.
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, I. xii. Yorick scarce ever heard this sad vaticination of his destiny read over to him, but … that he [etc.].
1815. Scott, Guy M., xlvii. The Dominie … had just that moment parted from Meg Merrilies, and was too deeply wrapt up in pondering upon her vaticinations, to make any answer.
1850. Merivale, Rom. Emp., iii. (1865), I. 115. The frightful vaticinations of fire and slaughter with which Cicero had kept the ears of the people tingling.
1874. H. R. Reynolds, John Bapt., iv. § 6. 266. The ‘Sibylline Oracles’ … contain many vaticinations, inextricably mingled, from Jewish, heathen, and Christian sources.
transf. 1836. Emerson, Nature, Wks. (Bohn), II. 170. Every surmise and vaticination of the mind is entitled to a certain respect.
2. The action or fact of vaticinating; the utterance of predictions or prophecies; also, the power or gift of this.
1623. Cockeram, I. Vaticination, a prophesying.
1699. Bentley, Phal., iv. 147. Unless we dare ascribe to the Tyrant a Spirit of Vaticination, we cannot acquit the Author of the Letters of so manifest a cheat.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xxiii. He despised most of the ordinary prejudices about witchcraft, omens, and vaticination.
1874. H. R. Reynolds, John Bapt., iii. § 3. 206. The ambiguous vaticination of the heathen oracles.
transf. 1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 252. He that foretels the motions of planets,… may be said to do it by natural vaticination.
† b. Divine or inspired apprehension or knowledge; intuition, insight. Obs.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., Pref. Whether this Assurance be called a Vaticination or Divine Sagacity, (as it is by Plato and Aristotle) or Faith, as in the Scripture. Ibid., 409. That Vaticination, which all men have in their minds concerning the Gods.
