Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of foretell.
  • noun prediction

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a statement made about the future
  • noun the art or gift of prophecy (or the pretense of prophecy) by supernatural means

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Christ, of whom not only Cyrus, who was God's servant in foretelling it, was a type.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume IV (Isaiah to Malachi) 1721

  • He is more particular here in foretelling his sufferings than any time before.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume V (Matthew to John) 1721

  • Plus, I’m getting the sense that the show, which has increasingly included soundbites of Kevin foretelling his own victory, has begun setting us up for an upset.

    'Hell's Kitchen' recap: Yes we can? No, they can't. | EW.com 2009

  • Consequently a sacrament is a sign that is both a reminder of the past, i.e. the passion of Christ; and an indication of that which is effected in us by Christ's passion, i.e. grace; and a prognostic, that is, a foretelling of future glory.

    Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition Aquinas Thomas

  • Though the Old Testament prophets as agents of revelation are popularly conceived as being principally men involved in foretelling, that is, predicting future events, in reality the emphasis of their activity was involved in forthtelling.

    Crosswalk.com - Home 2009

  • One shilling for simple magic such as foretelling the fate of common black people.

    Allan and the Holy Flower Henry Rider Haggard 1890

  • IC, I know you explained the difference between "foretelling" and "forthtelling", and maybe I'm just a little dense, but I looked up the word and it's usage and it seems that although it could be used both ways, the usage of the word varies depending on the situation and context.

    Pulpit Pimps 2008

  • "That stroke is to remind us," said Colum-cille, "that it is fitter for us to be inside Saint Patrick's church, praying as Saint Patrick taught us to pray, than to be foretelling what he will do for us on the Day of Judgment."

    St Patrick's Day John 2009

  • "That stroke is to remind us," said Colum-cille, "that it is fitter for us to be inside Saint Patrick's church, praying as Saint Patrick taught us to pray, than to be foretelling what he will do for us on the Day of Judgment."

    St Berthold's Feast Day. . . . John 2009

  • "I usually take the Ferrari," he responded, summing up both the kind of fuel and reckless speed by which we arrived at our current being, and foretelling years of VIP douchery.

    Janie Campbell: Welcome to Miami, Where Every Piece Matters Janie Campbell 2011

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