foremath

plural foremaths

1. A first mowing; that which is gleaned from a first or prior mowing.

   […] the accidents of itinerary — everything that can be overheard or spied out: everything (in a phrase he used in one of his poems) between the foremath and the aftermath, the early growth and the after growth of the intended harvest.

   1989, Richard P. Blackmur, James T. Jones, Outsider at the heart of things

2. Something preceding or producing a particular outcome; events that have yet to occur, or are in the process of occurring.

   The aftermath of glory and the foremath of peace would not blend.

   1920, Rupert Hughs, What's the World Coming To?, Digitized edition, Harper & Brothers, published 2006, page 104

   2 more examples

   I shall ask you to view these remarks in the of "foremath" note rather than a preface or introduction, which imply a knowledge of what follows. I am using the word "foremath" to suggest what precedes without the knowledge of what follows.

   1967, Edgar M. Horwood, American Society of Planning Officials, Digitized edition, published 2006, page 1

   After delaying the decision for three years, the President eventually endorsed the concept in the foremath of the 1984 Presidential election, ...

   1995, William T. Golden, Science and Technology Advice to the President, Congress, Transaction Publishers, →ISBN, page 191