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English Lexicon

Forebode

/fɔːrˈboʊd/
verbCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #14500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To act as an omen of a future event, especially a bad or disastrous one.

    "The dark clouds gathering on the horizon forebode a severe storm."
  2. 2

    To have an inward conviction of a future misfortune or disaster.

    "She could not shake the feeling that foreboded great trouble for the expedition."
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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from Middle English 'forbodian', combining the prefix 'for-' (denoting prohibition, opposition, or completion) and 'bodian' (to announce or preach, from Old English 'bodian'). Historically, it shifted from meaning to prohibit or announce beforehand to its modern sense of acting as an omen or warning of a future event.

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