foretell
verbUK [fɔːˈtɛɫ] · US [fɔɹˈtɛɫ]
Etymology c. 1300, from Middle English foretellen, equivalent to fore- + tell.
1
Ambitransitive To predict; to tell (the future) before it occurs; to prophesy.
- Deeds then undone me faithful tongue foretold.1725–1726, Homer, “Book 2”, in [William Broome, Elijah Fenton, Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:
- Prodigies, foretelling the future eminence and lustre of his character.1741, Conyers Middleton, The Life of Cicero:
1 more example
- This was a demise foretold. Fatalistic in the face of a parliamentary impasse, Mr. Bayrou had, even before the debate began, invited his entourage to a “convivial moment,” or farewell soirée, this evening.2025 September 8, Roger Cohen, “French Prime Minister Bayrou Loses Confidence Vote, Putting Pressure on Macron”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
2
To tell (a person) of the future.
- […] there came to him a Person named Saul, whom Samuel had never before seen; but God made him know it was the same he had foretold him of.1739, Edward Button, Rudiments of Ancient History:
- Derived terms
- foretellable, foreteller