foresentence

English

Alternative forms

• fore-sentence

Etymology

From fore- +‎ sentence.

Noun

foresentence (plural foresentences)

1. (law, rare) A sentence or condemnation in advance.
   • 1975, H. Richard Uviller, The Processes of Criminal Justice: Investigation, page 794:

     To move on that note from our deficient techniques of fact-gathering, there is a troublesome quality of class bias both in the subjects treated in foresentence reports and the standard modes of treatment.

2. (religious) Prophetic doom.

Verb

foresentence (third-person singular simple present foresentences, present participle foresentencing, simple past and past participle foresentenced)

1. (transitive, rare) To sentence beforehand or in advance.
   • 1889, Charles Allan Sherard, A Daughter of the South and Other Poems - Page 10:

     Be it not mine to foresentence a sinner, whose sin's consummation Prefaced his ultimate ruin—his last dying act may atone For some misdeeds ; and whatever be written of Hell and damnation, God alone knows what is gospel; […]

   • 1934, Roy Campbell, Broken Record: Reminiscences - Page 158:

     On the strength of having a good time in one's teens, one foresentences one's manhood to derision at an early age: and to a life-long subjection to women and younger exoletes.