Obs. Also col-, coll- (written both conjointly and separately); also later cold(e prophet. [Apparently f. COLE sb.2, a conjuring trick, or deceiver, cheat. The later cold prophet is evidently a perversion by ‘popular etymology’; it shows that the sense of cole was forgotten by 1579; also that the word had in 16th c. a long ō, and was not ME. cole = cool.]
One who pretends, by magic or occult means, to predict the future, tell fortunes, etc.; a wizard, sorcerer, diviner, necromancer, fortune-teller.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 707/1. [No] nede to send ani such coll prophetes as these heretikes are, to teache his church the faithe.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Owen Glendour, xxxi. I found I was the hartles hare And not the beast Colprophete did declare.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 17.
| Ye plaie coleprophet (quoth I) who takth in hande, | |
| To knowe his answere before he do his errande. |
1574. Life 70th Abp. Canterb., Pref. C vij b. Conjuring witches and coleprophetes, seduced by the lying spyrite as was Merline.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 78. You may Gentleman accompt me for a colde Prophet, thus hastely to deuine of your disposition.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., IX. iii. 137. To plaie the cold prophet, as to recount it good or bad lucke, when salt or wine falleth on the table.
1601. Deacon & Walker, Answ. Darel, 40. Some supernaturall Cole-prophet.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks, 1014 (N.). As hee was most vainely persuaded by the cold prophets, to whom he gave no small credit.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 533. He foretold the death of this cold Prophet.
