oracle

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A shrine consecrated to the worship and consultation of a prophetic deity, as that of Apollo at Delphi.
2. n. A person, such as a priestess, through whom a deity is held to respond when consulted.
3. n. The response given through such a medium, often in the form of enigmatic statement or allegory.
4. n. A person considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinions.
5. n. An authoritative or wise statement or prediction.
6. n. A command or revelation from God.
7. n. In the Bible, the sanctuary of the Temple.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In classical antiquity: An utterance given by a priest or priestess of a god, in the name of the god and, as was believed, by his inspiration, in answer to a human inquiry, usually respecting some future event, as the success of an enterprise or battle, or some proposed line of conduct. Such oracles exerted for centuries a strong influence npon the course of human affairs, the belief of both the medium and the questioner in their divine inspiration being in most cases genuine. The oracles themselves, however, were often ambiguous or at least obscure. The prestige of the chief oracular seats of Greece was powerful in the promotion of good government and justice. After the introduction of Christianity the utterance of oracles gradually ceased. It was a common belief of early Christians that the oracles actually proceeded from evil spirits.
2. n. The deity who was supposed to give such answers to inquiries.
3. n. The place where oracular answers were given; the sanctuary, temple, or adytum whence the supposed supernatural responses proceeded. The Greeks surpassed every other nation in both the number and the celebrity of their oracles. Those of Zeus at Dodona in Epirus, of Apollo at Delphi, and of Trophonius near Lebadeia in Bœotia enjoyed the highest reputation.
4. n. Hence, by extension — The communications, revelations, or instruction delivered by God to or through his prophets: rarely used in the singular: as, the oracles of God; the divine oracles.
5. n. The sanctuary or most holy place in the temple, in which was deposited the ark of the covenant (1 Ki. vi. 19): sometimes used for the temple itself.
6. n. A source or repository of the divine will that may be consulted or drawn upon.
7. n. An uncommonly wise person, whose opinions are of great authority, and whose determinations are not disputed.
8. n. A wise saying or an authoritative decision given by such a person.
9. n. Something that is looked upon as an infallible guide or standard of reference.
10. To utter oracles.

Wiktionary

1. n. A shrine dedicated to some prophetic deity.
2. n. A person such as a priest through whom the deity is supposed to respond with prophecy or advice.
3. n. A prophetic response, often enigmatic or allegorical, so given.
4. n. A person considered to be a source of wisdom.
5. n. computing theory A theoretical entity capable of answering some collection of questions.
6. v. obsolete To utter oracles or prophecies.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The answer of a god, or some person reputed to be a god, to an inquiry respecting some affair or future event, as the success of an enterprise or battle.
2. n. The deity who was supposed to give the answer; also, the place where it was given.
3. n. The communications, revelations, or messages delivered by God to the prophets; also, the entire sacred Scriptures -- usually in the plural.
4. n. (Jewish Antiq.) The sanctuary, or Most Holy place in the temple; also, the temple itself.
5. n. One who communicates an oracle{1} or divine command; an angel; a prophet.
6. n. Any person reputed uncommonly wise; one whose decisions are regarded as of great authority.
7. n. A wise pronouncement or decision considered as of great authority.
8. v. obsolete To utter oracles.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an authoritative person who divines the future
2. n. a shrine where an oracular god is consulted
3. n. a prophecy (usually obscure or allegorical) revealed by a priest or priestess; believed to be infallible