betoken

[bih-toh-kuh n]

See more synonyms for betoken on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to give evidence of; indicate: to betoken one's fidelity with a vow; a kiss that betokens one's affection.
to be or give a token or sign of; portend: a thunderclap that betokens foul weather; an angry word that betokens hostility.

Origin of betoken

First recorded in 1125–75, betoken is from the Middle English word bitocnen, bitacnen. See be-, token

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for betoken

betide, note, signify, denote, omen, show, assert, express, portend, foreshadow, forebode, import, bespeak, augur, symbolize, presage, witness, foreshow

Examples from the Web for betoken

Historical Examples of betoken

There had been barely a glance between us to betoken the dreadfulness of the moment.
Ruggles of Red Gap
Harry Leon Wilson
It was empty, and neither horse nor man nor boy was there to betoken that it had an owner.
Tom, Dick and Harry
Talbot Baines Reed
Her voice was quiet, but it did not betoken indifference; he knew that she was not one to forget.
The Long Portage
Harold Bindloss
They betoken nervousness, of course—inherent nervousness, probably.
'Murphy'
Major Gambier-Parry
There are some barbarisms in it, which seem to betoken its antiquity.
Nuts to crack; or Quips, quirks, anecdote and facete of Oxford and Cambridge Scholars
Richard Gooch

British Dictionary definitions for betoken

betoken

verb (tr)

to indicate; signifyblack clothes betoken mourning
to portend; augur

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for betoken

late 12c., from be- + Old English tacnian "to signify," from tacn "sign" (see token). Related: Betokened; betokening.