foreknow

[fawr-noh, fohr-]

verb (used with object)

foreknew, foreknown, foreknowing. 

1. to know beforehand.

   Synonyms: anticipate, discern, divine, foresee

foreknow

/ fɔːˈnəʊ /

verb

1. (tr) to know in advance

Other Word Forms

• foreknowingly adverb
• foreknowable adjective
• foreknowledge noun
• foreknower noun
• unforeknowable adjective
• unforeknown adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foreknow¹

First recorded in 1400–50, foreknow is from the late Middle English word foreknowen. See fore-, know ¹

Example Sentences

Emergency managers in central Puget Sound understand what is possible and are doing their best to plan for the foreknown consequences of a major earthquake.

From Seattle Times

Now his heart foreknew the wrath to come, but he could not take flight, being by Athena bound there.

From Literature

Who gave him an imperfect nature—a nature of which it was foreknown it would fall!

From Project Gutenberg

Then and there he foreknew and foreordained all human tears.

From Project Gutenberg

His image was all the more pale and ineffectual now because, foreknowing them well, he had not mastered them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deduce 
• discern 
• foresee 
• foretell 
• infer 
• prophesy 
• surmise 
• visualize