| 释义 |
foretell, v.|fɔəˈtɛl|
Also 3 fortell, 7–9 foretel.
[f. fore- prefix + tell v.]
1. trans. To tell of (an event, etc.) beforehand; to predict, prophesy.
a1300Cursor M. 9265 (Cott.) Crist was for-tald wit propheci. 1639A. Wheelocke in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 158 Augustine fore-tould and threatned theire death. 1727De Foe Syst. Magic i. ii. (1840) 42 These Magi..foretold things to come, or, at least, made the people believe so. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. iv. §15 He foretells to them, that..in half an Hour they shall meet Men or Cattle. 1837Whewell Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857) I. 225 To whom the astrologers had foretold glorious old age. 1869Lecky Europ. Mor. II. i. 2 The object of the Pagan systems was to foretell the future.
b. Of things: To give notice of beforehand, indicate the approach of, foreshow.
1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. i. 43 Thou, whose heauie Lookes fore-tell Some dreadfull story hanging on thy Tongue. 1672Sir W. Petty Pol. Anat. (1691) 50 There is the Instrument to measure and foretel Frost and Snow. 1753J. Warton Virgil (T.), These ills prophetic signs have oft foretold. 1862Ansted Channel Isl. i. vii. (ed. 2) 144 A signal station, to foretel storms.
†2. To tell (i.e. either inform or enjoin) beforehand. With n. or clause as second obj. (See tell). Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 14552 (Cott.) Þis was bi him he þaim for-tald Thoru quam he wist he suld be sald. 1581Lambarde Eiren. ii. v. (1602) 168 If the maister..take his vsuall seruants with him, not foretelling them what hee intendeth to doe. 1590Greene Mourn. Garm. (1616) 58 Had I beleeued what I was foretold. 1610Shakes. Temp. iv. i. 149 These our actors, (As I foretold you) were all Spirits. 1631Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. 209 Hauing beene prophetically foretold that hee should die in Ierusalem. 1641Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 36 Forkers are to be foretolde that they give upp goode forkefulls. a1679Hobbes Rhet. iii. xiii. 120 A Man is free to fore-tell, or not, what points he will insist upon.
†3. intr. To utter prediction of, prophesy of.
a1300Cursor M. 9858 (Cott.) Þis barn þat ysai of fortald. 1557N. T. (Genev.) Acts iii. 24 Al the Prophetes haue fore tolde of these dayes. 1667Milton P.L. xii. 242 To introduce One greater, of whose day he shall foretell.
Hence foreˈtelling vbl. n., prediction, prophecy. foreˈtelling ppl. a., that foretells. Also foreˈteller, one who or that which foretells.
1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Luke xxii 176 a, Of whome the foretellynges of the prophetes doe make mencion. 1580Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Pronostiqueur, a foreteller, a deuine which telleth thing to come. a1640W. Fenner Sacr. Faithfull (1648) 201 If a man lie sicke, and they see death in his face, they call it the foretelling signe. a1716South Serm. (1737) VI. x. 357 Buds and blossoms are the foretellers of fruit. 1826Miss Mitford Village Ser. ii. (1863) 439 The genuine gipsy tact with which she adapted her foretellings to the age [etc.]..of her clients. 1879Farrar St. Paul (1883) 252 There was scarcely a Roman family that did not keep or consult its own foreteller of the future. |