forethink

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English forethynken, from Old English fōreþenċan (to premeditate, consider, be mindful), corresponding to fore- +‎ think. Cognate with Dutch voordenken, German vordenken (to think ahead).

Verb

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forethink (third-person singular simple present forethinks, present participle forethinking, simple past and past participle forethought)

  1. (transitive, rare) To plan (something) in advance; think, consider, or contrive beforehand; prognosticate.
    • 1612–1626, [Joseph Hall], “(please specify the page)”, in [Contemplations vpon the Principall Passages of the Holy Storie], volumes (please specify |volume=II, V, or VI), London, →OCLC:
      O vain sorceress , that could be wary to avoid the punishment of Saul ; careless to avoid the judgment of God ! Could we forethink what our sin would cost us , we durst not but be innocent
  2. (transitive, rare) To think about beforehand; to anticipate.