A.one who speaks for a god and interprets his will to man, Διὸς π. interpreter, expounder of the will of Zeus, of Tiresias, Pi.N.1.60; Βάκχου π., perh. of Orpheus, E.Rh.972; [Διονύσου] π., of the Bacchae, Id.Ba.551 (lyr.); Νηρέως π., of Glaucus, Id.Or.364; esp. of the Delphic Apollo, “Διὸς π. ἐστὶ Λοξίας πατρός” A.Eu.19; of the minister and interpreter at Delphi, Hdt.8.36,37; at the Ptoön, ib. 135, IG7.4135.13 (ii B.C.); cf. προφῆτις.
2. title of official keepers of the oracle at Branchidae, CIG2884, al., Supp.Epigr.1.426 (Milet., i A.D.); elsewhere, IG14.961, 1032, 1084, 2433 (Massilia), 9(2).1109.22 (Coropa, ii/i B.C.), etc.
b. in Egyptian temples, member of the highest order of the clergy, priest, “π. θεῶν Εὐεργετῶν” PTeb.6.3 (ii B.C.), cf. OGI56.59 (Canopus, iii B.C.), etc.
3. interpreter, expounder of the utterances of the μάντις (q.v.), Pl.Ti.72a: hence, of Poets, “Πιερίδων π.” Pi.Pae.6.6; “Μουσᾶν π.” B.8.3, cf. Pl.Phdr.262d.
4. possessor of oracular powers, of Amphiaraus, A.Th.611, cf. Ag.409 (lyr.); of Pseudo-Bacis, Ar.Av.972; of Epimenides, Ep.Tit.1.12.
5. generally, interpreter, declarer, “ἐγὼ π. σοι λόγων γενήσομαι” E.Ba.211; π. ἀτόμων, of the Epicureans, Ath.5.187b; τῶν Πύρρωνος λόγων, of Timon, S.E.M.1.53; spokesman, LXX Ex.7.1.
b. metaph., proclaimer, harbinger, κώμου προφάτας, of the wine-bowl, Pi.N.9.50; “δείπνου π. λιμός” Antiph.217.23; “φθόης π.” Pl.Com.184.4; “τέττιξ . . θέρεος γλυκὺς π.” Anacreont.32.11.
II. herald at the games, B.9.28(pl.).
III. in LXX, revealer of God's will, prophet, 1 Ki.9.9,al.:— hence,
2. in NT, inspired preacher and teacher, organ of special revelations from God, 1 Ep.Cor.12.28, 14.32; and (as comprised in this),
3. herbalist, Ps.-Dsc.1.10, al.; quack doctor, Gal. 16.761.
