Forms: 6 sothsay, 6–7 southsaye, 6, 9 soothsay, 6 -saye. [Back-formation from SOOTHSAYER or SOOTHSAYING vbl. sb.: cf. prec. Also written as two words and occas. with hyphen.]
† 1. A true or wise saying; a proverb, saw. Obs.–1
1549. Latimer, Sev. Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 97. An old soth say, but thoughe the sayinge be none of the newist I feare me yet is it one of the trwest.
2. A prediction, prognostication or prophecy; an omen or portent.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 96. O the superstitions of beldam trumperye sooth says.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 51. Shewes, visions, sooth-sayes, and prophesies.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 219. Those foretelling Southsayes … which without question were knowne vnto this Madoc.
1641. Brightman, Predict., 2. Merlin,… whose South-saies (for so they called them in old time) have proved true even to these latter dayes.
1870. Rossetti, Poems, House of Life, vii. They told me she was sad that day, (Though wherefore tell what love’s soothsay, Sooner than they, did register?).
b. Without article. (Good) omen; soothsaying, prognostication. rare.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. viii. 50. Aye me,… the signes be sad, And but God turne the same to good soothsay, That Ladies safetie is sore to be drad.
1831. trans. Tieck’s Old Man of Mountain, etc. 246. Do not you seem to know everything, or else to have learnt it by soothsay?
