▪ I. forespeak, v.
(fɔəˈspiːk)
Also for-.
[f. fore- prefix + speak v.]
1. trans. To speak beforehand; to speak of beforehand, esp. to fortell, predict. Now rare. † Occasionally of a thing: To betoken.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 630 Let hym with the lettir passe, Till entyr It, as for-spokin was. 1548 Gest Pr. Masse 110 Hys antecedent..was not to sacryfyce his body wherof he forspoke never word. 1654 H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 91 Every man would now be wise and fore-speak fair weather..how truly a few moneths will discover. 1667 Disc. Religion of England 27 Though a peoples discomposure doth not forespeak Warrs and Tumults, yet it may denounce Woe and Misery. 1850 Blackie æschylus I. 165, I must flee..and hie me where the god Forespoke me refuge. 1877 J. B. Taylor in Internat. Rev. IV. 417 He [Tennyson] has not..forespoken the deeper problems which shall engage the generation to come. |
† b. To speak to (a person) beforehand. Obs.
| 1635 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Ban. Virgin 143 My Physitian had, in fore-speaking the women..made every of them beleeve, that [etc.]. 1692 Wagstaffe Vind. Carol. Pref., Our Author has forespoken his Reader with a long Preface. |
† 2. intr. To speak beforehand; chiefly, to utter predictions, prophesy.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2947 (Cott.) Als sco for spak, right sua þai wroght. 1557 N.T. (Genev.) Epist. *iv, First Isaie forespake vnto, how that he sholde be borne of a Virgine. 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 43/1 The Irish prophet..forespeaking of this battell said [etc.]. 1646 P. Bulkeley Gospel Covt. i. 110 These are the days fore-spoken of. 1656 Cromwell Sp. 17 Sept. in Burton's Diary (1828) Introd. I. 155 The head of the anti-Christian interest, that is..so fore⁓spoken of. |
† 3. trans. To speak forth or out; to proclaim.
| 1546 J. Heywood Prov. (1867) 31 Forspeake not your fortune, nor hide not your neede. a 1547 Surrey Ps. lxxiii. 66 My unworthy lips..Shall thus forespeak thy secret works, in sight of Adams race. |
4. To speak for or bespeak in advance.
| 1659 H. L'Estrange Alliance Div. Off. 36 That they might the better forespeak impunity for so strange boldness. 1882 Ogilv., Forespeak..to buy a thing before it is fit or in the market; to bespeak; as, that calf is forespoken. (Scotch). |
Hence foreˈspeaking ppl. a.
| 1650 W. Sclater Malachy Ep. Ded. ii. Forespeaking and..conjecturing natures. |
▪ II. forespeak
see forspeak, to bewitch, etc.