foretell

[fawr-tel, fohr-]

See more synonyms for foretell on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), fore·told, fore·tell·ing.

to tell of beforehand; predict; prophesy.

Origin of foretell

First recorded in 1250–1300, foretell is from the Middle English word fortell. See fore-, tell¹

Related formsfore·tell·er, nounun·fore·told, adjective

Synonyms

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forecast, augur, presage, forebode.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for foretell

Contemporary Examples

All was not well, and how it would end, even this master politician could not foretell.
Robert Caro’s New Yorker Essay: 7 New Insights Into LBJ
Matthew DeLuca
March 26, 2012
This year there has been only one fuzzy paparazzi photo of the pair and even it seemed to foretell the end.
Clooney Breakup’s Red Flags
Barbie Latza Nadeau
June 23, 2011
The growing theme of anti-establishment sites might just foretell the months ahead.
Spain Protests Claim 'European Summer' Follows Arab Spring
Barbie Latza Nadeau, Mike Elkin
May 28, 2011

Historical Examples

Few of us can foretell what may or may not happen under heaven.
A Woman Intervenes
Robert Barr
Indeed, to this hour I have a lingering belief that cats can foretell the weather.
Concerning Cats
Helen M. Winslow
He cultivated the society of scholars, could interpret signs and foretell the future.
The Chinese Fairy Book
Various
On the other hand, to dream of an onion is supposed in some parts to foretell sickness.
Storyology
Benjamin Taylor
And they do often foretell the most wonderful things; I know they do.
The Gypsies
Charles G. Leland

British Dictionary definitions for foretell

foretell

verb -tells, -telling or -told

(tr; may take a clause as object) to tell or indicate (an event, a result, etc) beforehand; predict

Derived Formsforeteller, noun

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 foretell

v.

c.1300, from fore- + tell (v.). Related: Foretold; foretelling.

foretell

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}foretell

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for foretell

Contemporary Examples

All was not well, and how it would end, even this master politician could not foretell.

This year there has been only one fuzzy paparazzi photo of the pair and even it seemed to foretell the end.

The growing theme of anti-establishment sites might just foretell the months ahead.

Historical Examples

Few of us can foretell what may or may not happen under heaven.

Indeed, to this hour I have a lingering belief that cats can foretell the weather.

He cultivated the society of scholars, could interpret signs and foretell the future.

On the other hand, to dream of an onion is supposed in some parts to foretell sickness.

And they do often foretell the most wonderful things; I know they do.

foretell

Word Origin and History for foretell

v.

Origin of foretell