Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used with object), fore·saw, fore·seen, fore·see·ing.
- to have prescience of; to know in advance; foreknow.
- to see beforehand.
verb (used without object), fore·saw, fore·seen, fore·see·ing.
- to exercise foresight.
adjective
- not seen or known beforehand; unanticipated
verb -sees, -seeing, -saw or -seen
- (tr; may take a clause as object) to see or know beforehandhe did not foresee that
adj.1650s, from un- (1) “not” + past participle of foresee. Cf. Middle Dutch onvoresien, Dutch onvoorzien, Middle High German unvorsen. v.Old English foreseon “have a premonition,” from fore- “before” + seon “to see, see ahead” (see see (v.)). Related: Foresaw; foreseeing; foreseen.