foretold

Foretold is the past participle of the verb foretell, used to describe something that has been predicted or prophesied beforehand. As a participle, it is used in perfect tenses such as "has foretold" and in passive constructions like "was foretold." It can function adjectivally to qualify nouns, as in "the foretold disaster."

Etymology: From Old English for-tellan "to tell beforehand," combining fore- "before" with tellan/tellan "to tell." The modern form reflects usual English spelling and pronunciation shifts while retaining the same meaning.

Usage: Foretold appears frequently in religious texts and classical literature to denote prophecies that precede events. In contemporary writing, it is often used to refer to predictions that have gained attention or to describe expectations that were anticipated by experts or authorities. The phrase "as foretold" is common in discussions about prophecy and in narratives where a prophecy guides the plot.

See also: foretell; prophecy; prediction; fulfillment. Note: Foretold is more literary or formal in tone and is less common in casual speech, where "predicted" or "was predicted" is more usual.