I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English fortaste, foretaste, from for-, fore- fore- + taste
1. : something that serves to indicate or warn of what is to come
the air held a foretaste of rain
2. : a taste or trial in advance : a small anticipatory sample
those brilliant February days that sometimes come as a foretaste of spring
a journey like this was only a foretaste , too rewarding not to be repeated — Van Wyck Brooks
II. ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English fortasten, foretasten, from for-, fore- fore- + tasten to taste — more at taste
: to taste beforehand : have a foretaste of : anticipate
foretasting his discharge from the army on a weekend pass