foresay

English

Etymology

From Middle English foresayen, foreseyen, foreseggen (found only in past participle foresaid), from Old English foreseċġan (“to foresay, foretell, predict, announce, mention beforehand”), equivalent to fore- +‎ say. Cognate with Dutch voorzeggen (“to foretell, presage”), Old Danish foresige, Swedish föresäga, förutsäga (“to predict”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɔː(ɹ)ˈseɪ/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

Verb

foresay (third-person singular simple present foresays, present participle foresaying, simple past and past participle foresaid)

1. (transitive, archaic) To say beforehand; predict; foretell.
2. (transitive) To decree; ordain; appoint.
   • 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:

     Let ordinance / Come as the gods foresay it.