betoken, v.
(bɪˈtəʊk(ə)n)
Forms: 2–3 bitacnien, bitocnen, 3 Orm. bitacnenn, 3–4 be-, bi-, bytaken(en, -in(en, 3–6 be-, bi-, bytoken(e, 3 -on(e, 4–5 -yn(e), 4 bytokne, betocne, 6 Sc. betakin, -taikin (? betoke), 4– betoken.
[Early ME. bitacnien, later bitok(e)nen, prob. OE. *betácnian, not recorded (but cf. OHG. bizeichanôn mod.Ger. bezeichnen, Du. beteekenen), f. bi-, be- + tácnian to signify, f. tácn token.]
† 1. trans. To signify, mean; to denote, express in words. Obs.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 79 Ierusalem bitacneð griþes sihþe. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 17 Ich wille..segge ou þe crede word after word, and þarmid hwat elch word bitocneð. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) i. ii. 11 Or in other langage or wordes betokenynge the same sentence. 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1333 When men intend to betoken the exceeding huge greatnesse of Rome, they terme it the triumphant Rome. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. vi. (1627) 68 When two Substantives come together, betokening divers things. |
† b. absol. Obs.
| 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iii. 232 Many that bost themselues to be Christians..tremble at euery mention of it [death], as of a thing betokening vnluckely and vnhappy. 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 200 World, may betoken plurally or indefinitely. |
† 2. To be a type or emblem of; to typify, symbolize. (Sometimes with obj. clause.) Obs.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 89 Þet lomb bitacnede cristes þrowunge. a 1300 Cursor M. 41 Þis ilke tre Bytakens man..Þis fruit bitakens alle oure dedis Both gode and ille. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xx. 118 The paume..bytokneþ trewely..The holy gost of heuene. c 1440 Gesta Rom. 71 Þe rook..betokenyth okerers and false merchauntz. 1534 More On the Passion i. Wks. 1331/2 Thys excellente high sacrament..betokeneth also manyfold merueilous mysteries. 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 867 In the Cloud a Bow..Betok'ning peace from God and Cov'nant new. |
3. To be a token, sign, or omen of; to give promise of, augur, presage.
| c 1205 Lay. 16008 What bitacnieð þa draken þe þene dune makeden. a 1300 Cursor M. 4598 Þas oþer seuen nede nett Bitakens seuen yer of hunger. c 1460 Towneley Myst. 124 Yond starne betokyns..The byrthe of a prynce. 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 453 Like a red morn, that ever yet betoken'd Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field. 1635 Swan Spec. M. v. §2 (1643) 125 They betoken rain and moist weather. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxix. (1856) 249 Everything betokened a crisis. |
4. To give evidence of, point to, indicate, show.
| 1486 Bk. St. Alban's A viij b, And much it betokynis hardenes. 1602 Shakes. Ham. v. i. 242 This doth betoken The Coarse they follow did with disperate hand Fore do it owne life. 1814 Cary Dante's Inf. vii. 114 All naked, and with looks Betokening rage. 1863 Hawthorne Old Home (1879) 302 As he talked..he betokened in many ways a fine..sensibility. 1871 Macduff Mem. Patmos iv. 44 This symbolic number further betokens, that the epistolary addresses were designed as a directory of perpetual obligation. |
b. With of. To give indication.
| 1793 Holcroft Lavater's Physiog. xl. 203 As weak hair betokens of fear, so does strong hair courage. |
† 5. Used by Wyclif in the sense of ‘set a mark upon’ (L. signare), and ‘presage, predict, prophesy.’
| 1382 Wyclif Isa. Prol., And thoȝ..he betocne [v.r. betokeneth] the aȝeencomyng of the puple in to Iewerie. ― John vi. 27 God the fadir bitokenede or markede him [Vulg. signavit]. |