The English-Latin noun
vates is a term for a
prophet, following the Latin term. It is the origin of the English term ovate for an Irish
bard. The earliest Latin writers used ( to denote "prophets" and soothsayers in general; the word fell into disuse in Latin until it was revived by
Virgil. Thus
Ovid could describe himself as the of
Eros (
Amores 3.9).