Both the Hebrew (Nebrah), and Greek (Proph) used for prophetess means (female preacher). (See Young's Concordance, Pg. 780.)
The word "Prophet" means a public expounder.
The word "Prophesy" means to speak forth, or flow forth. The Bible says in
1 Cor. 14:3, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto MEN to edification, and exhortation and comfort."
The dictionary says, prophesy is "to speak under divine inspiration...to preach."
Therefore we learn from the original translation, from the Bible interpretation, and from the dictionary, that to prophesy means more than to tell the future, but it is to speak publicly about the past, present, or future. It is to preach under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The Old and New Testament prophets and prophetesses were preachers of God's Word.
Even if the words prophet and preacher could be separated, how could anyone prophesy to bring exhortation, comfort and edification to the church, if she were forbidden to speak in church and was to keep silent?
Would God inspire and anoint someone to do something that was wrong and sinful???