English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English foreseen, forseen, from Old English foresēon; equivalent to fore- +‎ see. Similar formations in Dutch voorzien, German vorsehen, Latin prōvideō, (whence provide and purvey), Ancient Greek πρόοιδα (próoida), Polish przewidzieć, Russian провидеть (providetʹ).

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

foresee (third-person singular simple present foresees, present participle foreseeing, simple past foresaw, past participle foreseen)

  1. To be able to see beforehand: to anticipate; predict.
  2. (obsolete) To provide.
    • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Vicissitude of Things”, in The Essayes [], 3rd edition, London: [] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
      Great shoals of people, which go on to populate, without foreseeing means of life.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

See also edit