forespeak
Americanverb (used with object)
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to predict; foretell.
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to ask for or claim in advance.
verb
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to predict; foresee
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to arrange or speak of in advance
Etymology
Origin of forespeak
First recorded in 1250–1300, forespeak is from the Middle English word forespeken. See fore-, speak
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
She stood at the pier-head and as they passed poured a cup of ale into the sea, to forespeak good luck for the fleet.
From Jan Vedder's Wife by Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
"Do not forespeak us, brother," said Angus; "that is not lucky."
From A Legend of Montrose by Sir Walter Scott
Those, meanwhile, who knew anything that boded ill, concealed it, lest they might seem to forespeak ill-luck.
From Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans by Arthur Hugh Clough
She could forespeak them so that they should give poison instead of milk, and the cream she had once overlooked was never fit for the “yirning.”
From Witch Stories by E. Lynn (Elizabeth Lynn) Linton
Susanna Edwards was active and powerful in forespeaking.
From Witch Stories by E. Lynn (Elizabeth Lynn) Linton
Cattle, like human beings, were exposed to the influences of the evil eye, of forespeaking, and of the casting of evil.
From Balder the Beautiful, Volume I. A Study in Magic and Religion: the Golden Bough, Part VII., The Fire-Festivals of Europe and the Doctrine of the External Soul by Sir James George Frazer
We'll therefore, if you please, support our praises with some testimonies of Holy Writ also, in the first place, nevertheless, having forespoke our theologians that they'll give us leave to do it without offense.
From The Praise of Folly by John Wilson
Thou hast forespoke my being in these warres, And say'st it is not fit Eno.
From Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
"And you think she was forespoken?" said Nicholas, addressing her.
From The Lancashire Witches A Romance of Pendle Forest by William Harrison Ainsworth
The woman told the man he had an ill neighbour, and that the child was forespoken.
From Witch Stories by E. Lynn (Elizabeth Lynn) Linton
Folks said she was forespoken, and that I had done it.
From The Lancashire Witches A Romance of Pendle Forest by William Harrison Ainsworth
But this night the mournful glamour of the past caught a fresh glory from the dawn of a grander day forespoken.
From The Bow of Orange Ribbon A Romance of New York by Theo. Hampe
She had been sorry for him, and forespoken good for him; he stood staunchly by all she did.
From A Reconstructed Marriage by Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
