foretell — to say what will happen in the future; to predict
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to say what will happen in the future; to predict
Pronunciation (IPA): /fɔːrˈtel/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother always foretells rain whenever her knees start hurting.
- The prophet foretold the fall of the kingdom decades before it happened.
- Economists attempted to foretell the market crash, but few succeeded.
foretell
VERB[/fɔːrˈtel/]
to say what will happen in the future; to predict
The old oracle uses her crystal ball to foretell the kingdom's future.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Foretell derives from Old English 'foretellan', a compound of 'fore' (before, in advance) and 'tellan' (to tell, speak). The word's meaning evolved directly from its literal sense of 'to speak beforehand' into the figurative sense of 'to predict or prophesy'.
Breakdown
fore- (before, in advance) + tell (to speak, narrate). The prefix 'fore-' indicates temporal precedence, while the root 'tell' means to communicate or articulate, combining to express the act of speaking about events before they occur.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother always foretells rain whenever her knees start hurting.”
“The prophet foretold the fall of the kingdom decades before it happened.”
“Economists attempted to foretell the market crash, but few succeeded.”
“No fortune cookie can truly foretell whether you'll pass the civil service exam.”
“The ancient text foretold a great flood that would cover the entire valley.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.