Meanings
present singular third person foreknows · participle present foreknowing · past foreknew · participle past foreknown
- To have knowledge of beforehand.
God hath not reiected his people vvhich he foreknevve.
1582, The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ: […] (Douay–Rheims Bible), Rheims: Iohn Fogny, →OCLC, Romanes 11:2, page 4092 more examples
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; […]
1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “The Chase.—Third Day.”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 630
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Englishforknowen
- Englishforeknow
From Middle English forknowen (since Chaucer), a calque from praescio equivalent to fore- + know. Replaced Old English fōrwitan, fōrewitan (“to foreknow”).
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian знам предварително
- знам предварително (znam predvaritelno)to have foreknowledge of
Finnish tietää ennalta
- tietää ennaltato have foreknowledge of
French prévoir
- prévoirto have foreknowledge of
Italian prevedere
- prevedereto have foreknowledge of
Latin praenōscō
- praenōscōto have foreknowledge of
Polish wiedzieć z góry
- wiedzieć z góryto have foreknowledge of
Russian предви́деть, знать наперёд
- предви́деть (predvídetʹ)to have foreknowledge of
- знать наперёд (znatʹ)to have foreknowledge of
Spanish prever, conocer de antemano
- preverto have foreknowledge of
- conocer de antemanoto have foreknowledge of
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with foreknow
All rhymes →Cite this entry
foreknow. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foreknow
“foreknow.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foreknow. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “foreknow,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foreknow.
Source: foreknow on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.