Origin and history of prediction

"act of predicting; a prophecy, a declaration concerning future events," 1560s, from French prédiction and directly from Medieval Latin predictionem (nominative predictio), from Latin praedictio "a foretelling," noun of action from past-participle stem of praedicere "assert, proclaim, declare publicly" (see predict).

Prediction may or may not be an inspired act : it is most commonly used of the foretelling of events in accordance with knowledge gained through scientific investigations or practical experience .... [Century Dictionary]