5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Oracle  \Or"a*cle\,  n.  [F.,  fr  L.  oraculum  fr  orare  to  speak, 
  utter,  pray,  fr  os  oris,  mouth.  See  {Oral}.] 
  1.  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. 
 
  Whatso'er  she  saith,  for  oracles  must  stand 
  --Drayton. 
 
  2.  Hence:  The  deity  who  was  supposed  to  give  the  answer; 
  also  the  place  where  it  was  given 
 
  The  oracles  are  dumb;  No  voice  or  hideous  hum  Runs 
  through  the  arched  roof  in  words  deceiving. 
  --Milton. 
 
  3.  The  communications,  revelations,  or  messages  delivered  by 
  God  to  the  prophets;  also  the  entire  sacred  Scriptures  -- 
  usually  in  the  plural. 
 
  The  first  principles  of  the  oracles  of  God.  --Heb. 
  v.  12. 
 
  4.  (Jewish  Antiq.)  The  sanctuary,  or  Most  Holy  place  in  the 
  temple;  also  the  temple  itself  --1  Kings  vi  19. 
 
  Siloa's  brook,  that  flow'd  Fast  by  the  oracle  of 
  God.  --Milton. 
 
  5.  One  who  communicates  a  divine  command;  an  angel;  a 
  prophet. 
 
  God  hath  now  sent  his  living  oracle  Into  the  world 
  to  teach  his  final  will  --Milton. 
 
  6.  Any  person  reputed  uncommonly  wise;  one  whose  decisions 
  are  regarded  as  of  great  authority;  as  a  literary  oracle. 
  ``Oracles  of  mode.''  --Tennyson. 
 
  The  country  rectors  .  .  .  thought  him  an  oracle  on 
  points  of  learning.  --Macaulay. 
 
  7.  A  wise  sentence  or  decision  of  great  authority. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Oracle  \Or"a*cle\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Oracled};  p.  pr  &  vb 
  n.  {Oracling}.] 
  To  utter  oracles.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  oracle 
  n  1:  an  authoritative  person  who  divines  the  future  [syn:  {prophet}] 
  2:  a  prophecy  (usually  obscure  or  allegorical)  revealed  by  a 
  priest  or  priestess;  believed  to  be  infallible 
  3:  a  shrine  where  an  oracular  god  is  consulted 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Oracle,  AZ  (CDP,  FIPS  51180) 
  Location:  32.61877  N,  110.78419  W 
  Population  (1990):  3043  (1185  housing  units) 
  Area:  24.8  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  85623 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Oracle 
  In  the  Old  Testament  used  in  every  case,  except  2  Sam.  16:23,  to 
  denote  the  most  holy  place  in  the  temple  (1  Kings  6:5,  19-23; 
  8:6).  In  2  Sam.  16:23  it  means  the  Word  of  God.  A  man  inquired 
  "at  the  oracle  of  God"  by  means  of  the  Urim  and  Thummim  in  the 
  breastplate  on  the  high  priest's  ephod.  In  the  New  Testament  it 
  is  used  only  in  the  plural,  and  always  denotes  the  Word  of  God 
  (Rom.  3:2;  Heb.  5:12,  etc.).  The  Scriptures  are  called  "living 
  oracles"  (comp.  Heb.  4:12)  because  of  their  quickening  power 
  (Acts  7:38). 
 

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