foreknow
/ˌfɔɹˈnoʊ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
18
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To have knowledge of beforehand.
Example Sentences
- "God hath not reiected his people vvhich he foreknevve."
- "1652, Eugenius Philalethes, The Fame and Confeſſion of the Fraternity of R: C: Commonly, of the Roſie Croſs; with a Præface annexed thereto, and a ſhort Declaration of their Phyſicall Work (London, Printed by J. M. for Giles Calvert, at the black ſpread Eagle at the Weſt end of Pauls), pages 1–2 of “The Epiſtle to the Wiſe and Underſtanding Reader” Wiſdom…is to a man an infinite Treaſure, for ſhe is the Breath of the Power of God, and a pure Influence that floweth from the Glory of the Almighty; ſhe is the Brightneſs of Eternal Light, and an undefiled Mirror of the Majeſty of God, and an Image of his Goodneſs; ſhe teacheth us Soberneſs and Prudence, Righteouſneſs and Strength; ſhe underſtands the Subtilty of words, and Solution of dark ſentences; ſhe foreknoweth Signs and Wonders, and what ſhall happen in time to come."
- "As it was, three of the oarsmen—who foreknew not the precise instant of the dart, and were therefore unprepared for its effects—these were flung out; […]"
Etymology
From Middle English forknowen (since Chaucer), a calque from praescio equivalent to fore- + know. Replaced Old English fōrwitan, fōrewitan (“to foreknow”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌfɔɹˈnoʊ/
- British English: /ˌfɔːˈnəʊ/