foretoken
A prognostic; a premonitory sign; warning or presentiment.
Noun
- A prognostic; a premonitory sign; warning or presentiment.
- Therefore know you Gentlemen (to whom from my harte I wish that it may not proue ominous foretoke[n] of misfortune to haue mette with such a miser as I am) that whatsoeuer my sonne (ô God, that trueth binds me to...
Origin
From Middle English foretokne, fortacne, from Old English foretācn, foretācen (“foretoken, presage, prognostic, prodigy, sign, wonder”), equivalent to fore- + token. Cognate with Dutch voorteken, German Low German Vörteken, German Vorzeichen.
Forms
Verb
- To betoken beforehand; prognosticate; foreshadow; give warning of; presage.
Origin
From Middle English *foretoknen, fortaknen, from Old English foretācnian (“to foreshow”).