[f. prec. sb. OE. had foretácnian in same sense.] trans. To be a foretoken of; to indicate or betoken beforehand.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., XV. viii. (1622), 232. There hapned as most men thought, a dolefull chance, but yet as he construed it, foretokening good luck, and sent by the fauorable prouidence of the gods.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 312. The northern [waterfall], sounding clear and loud, foretokeneth fair weather; the southern, on the same terms, presageth rain.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., 300. The experience that he needs something, joined with the strong foretokening, that the Redemption and the Graces propounded to us in Christ, are what he needs.
1867. R. Palmer, Life Philip Howard, x. 150. Fearful times indeed were coming on for the persecuted Church in England. There were mutterings and threats against it throughout all the land and in high places, which grew louder and foretokened the greatest evils as time went on and showed that a Catholic sovereign would mount the throne.
Hence Foretokening vbl. sb.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter, lxx[i]. 7.
| Made am I als for-takeninge [Vulg. tanquam prodigium] | |
| Unto mani. |
1600. Holland, Livy, VI. 245. The Dictatour himself, for his part, hath given a good foretokening and presage of a consull Commoner.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), II. I. vii. 128. How fully such general foretokenings are borne out, among other passages of history, in the Vandalic conquest of Africa.
