Dictionary

foredeem en · VERB

Etymology

From Middle English *foredemen, from Old English foredēman (“to prejudge”), equivalent to fore- + deem.

Meanings

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To judge, form a judgement of, or declare beforehand; foretell; forecast; presage.
   • Which [maid] could guess and foredeem of things past, present, and to come. 1560, Geneva Bible:
2. (transitive) To deem or account in advance; consider; take for granted; expect.
   • And of a beste, then fordeme the worst frende it was more standing with humanitee and gentlenesse to hope the best, then to foredeme the worste 1564, Nicholas Udall, Apophthegmatum opus (originally by Erasmus)
   • Laugh at your misery, as foredeeming you / An idle meteor. 1612, John Webster, The White Devil:
   • The doctor was as curious to learn how his suggestions would affect the conduct of Mrs. Radford when she should report to Blackwood, and he rightly foredeemed an early conference at the Lexington Avenue residence. 1918, John Duncan Quackenbos, Magnhild: a tale of psychic love:

Forms

Relateds

fordeem · foredoom

Synonyms

forehold (to deem beforehand) · prejudge (to deem beforehand)