different between betoken vs foretoken

English

Etymology

From Middle English bitoknen, bitacnen, from Old English bet?cnian (“to betoken, signify, designate”). Equivalent to be- +? token. Cognate with Dutch betekenen (“to mean, signify”), German bezeichnen (“to call, designate”), Swedish beteckna (“to represent, designate, indicate”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /b??to?.k?n/
• Rhymes: -??k?n

Verb

betoken (third-person singular simple present betokens, present participle betokening, simple past and past participle betokened)

1. (transitive) To signify by some visible object; show by signs or tokens.
   • 1557: Robert Recorde, The whetstone of witte, whiche is the seconde parte of Arithmetike?:?containyng the xtraction of Rootes?:?The Cossike practise, with the rule of Equation?:?and the workes of Surde Nombers.^?, page unknown (Ihon Kyngstone)

     There be other 2 signes in often use of which the first is made thus?+?and betokeneth more?:?the other is thus made?–?and betokeneth lesse.
2. (transitive) To foreshow by present signs; indicate something future by that which is seen or known.
   • 1853: Virgil, Charles Anthon, LL.D. [tr.], Æneïd of Virgil: With English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, a Metrical Clavis: And an Historical, Geographical, and Mythological Index, page 474 (Harper & Brothers, 329 & 331 Pearl Street, Franklin Square, New York)

     “?Ah?!?hospitable land, thou (nevertheless) betokenest war,” i.?e., although hospitable, thou nevertheless betokenest war.?—?Bello.

Synonyms

• (signify): indicate, mark, note
• (foreshow): portend, presage, forebode

Translations

References

• betoken in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English foretokne, fortacne, from Old English foret?cn, foret?cen (“foretoken, presage, prognostic, prodigy, sign, wonder”), equivalent to fore- +? token. Cognate with Dutch voorteken, German Low German Vörteken, German Vorzeichen.

Noun

foretoken (plural foretokens)

1. A prognostic; a premonitory sign; warning or presentment.

Etymology 2

From Middle English *foretoknen, fortaknen, from Old English foret?cnian (“to foreshow”).

Verb

foretoken (third-person singular simple present foretokens, present participle foretokening, simple past and past participle foretokened)

1. (transitive) To betoken beforehand; prognosticate; foreshadow; give warning of; presage.

Derived terms

• foretokening