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Foretell: meaning, definitions and examples

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foretell

 

[ fɔːˈtɛl ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

future prediction

To foretell means to predict or forecast the future based on signs, omens, or intuition. It involves foreseeing events before they actually happen.

Synonyms

anticipate, forecast, predict, prophesy

Examples of usage

  • He foretold the coming of a great storm.
  • She has the ability to foretell future events.
  • The ancient oracle was believed to foretell the fate of individuals.
  • They claim to foretell the winner of the competition.
  • The fortune teller foretold that she would meet her true love soon.

Translations

Translations of the word "foretell" in other languages:

🇵🇹 predizer

🇮🇳 भविष्यवाणी करना

🇩🇪 vorhersagen

🇮🇩 meramalkan

🇺🇦 передбачати

🇵🇱 przepowiadać

🇯🇵 予言する (yogen suru)

🇫🇷 prédire

🇪🇸 predecir

🇹🇷 öngörmek

🇰🇷 예언하다 (yeonhada)

🇸🇦 يتنبأ (yatana'ba)

🇨🇿 předpovědět

🇸🇰 predpovedať

🇨🇳 预言 (yùyán)

🇸🇮 napovedovati

🇮🇸 spá

🇰🇿 болжау

🇬🇪 წინასწარმეტყველება (ts'inasts'armet'q'veleba)

🇦🇿 proqnozlaşdırmaq

🇲🇽 predecir

Word origin

The word 'foretell' originated from the combination of 'fore-' meaning 'before' and 'tell', which together mean to tell beforehand. The concept of foretelling dates back to ancient times when people believed in divination and prophecy to predict the future.

See also: foretelling, retelling, tell, telling, telly.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,424, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.