German

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Etymology

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In its modern form a compound of weis +‎ Sager (“wise-sayer”). However, this is a secondary motivation of Old High German wīzzago, which is remotely related only to the former of the two components mentioned, pertaining more closely to German Wissen (knowledge) and thus English wit. Already in Old High German this ancient noun began to be re-interpreted as wīssago, i.e. in the modern sense.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈvaɪ̯sˌzaːɡɐ/

Noun

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Weissager m (strong, genitive Weissagers, plural Weissager, feminine Weissagerin)

  1. soothsayer, seer, prophet (male or of unspecified gender)

Declension

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