'prophecy' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'prophecie,' where 'pro-' meant 'before' and 'phēmi' meant 'to speak.'

'prophecie' transformed into the Middle English word 'prophecie,' and eventually became the modern English word 'prophecy'.

Initially, it meant 'to speak before,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a prediction or foretelling of future events.'