FORETELL


Meaning of FORETELL in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ fȯr-ˈtel ]

transitive verb

( fore·told -ˈtōld ; -tell·ing )

Date: 14th century

: to tell beforehand : predict

• fore·tell·er noun

Synonyms:

foretell , predict , forecast , prophesy , prognosticate mean to tell beforehand. foretell applies to the telling of the coming of a future event by any procedure or any source of information

seers foretold the calamity

predict commonly implies inference from facts or accepted laws of nature

astronomers predicted an eclipse

forecast adds the implication of anticipating eventualities and differs from predict in being usually concerned with probabilities rather than certainties

forecast snow

prophesy connotes inspired or mystic knowledge of the future especially as the fulfilling of divine threats or promises

prophesying a new messiah

prognosticate is used less often than the other words; it may suggest learned or skilled interpretation, but more often it is simply a colorful substitute for predict or prophesy

prognosticating the future

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.