foresight
/ˈfɔːsʌɪt
/noun
1 [mass noun] The ability to predict what will happen or be needed in the future: he had the foresight to check that his escape route was clear...
- In a guild, the only thing that kept each thief from killing the other was respect: respect of ability, intelligence, foresight, dexterity.
- Buyers and sellers have perfect foresight; all future incomes are fully known and are reflected in current asset prices.
- No one, certainly, has perfect foresight into the uncertain future.
Synonyms
forethought, anticipation, planning, forward planning, provision, prescience, circumspection, watchfulness, attentiveness, vigilance, prudence, care, caution, precaution, readiness, preparedness;
far-sightedness, discernment, presence of mind, judiciousness, discrimination, perspicacity, vision, awareness, penetration;
North American forehandedness
2The front sight of a gun.
3 Surveying A sight taken forwards.Our team consisted of Ralph as sketcher, Pat Bingham keeping book, Edgard Bertaut taking foresights with me on point, setting stations and doing backsights....
- A number of intermediate instrument set-ups are selected, so that sighting distance for backsights and foresights are approximately equal.
Origin
Middle English: from fore- + sight, probably suggested by Old Norse forsjá, forsjó.