Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “foresay” come from?

foresay (English) comes from Middle English foresayen, from Old English foreseċġan, from Proto-Germanic furaisagjaną, from Proto-Germanic furai-, from Proto-Germanic furai, from Proto-Indo-European preh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

foresay (English): To say beforehand; predict; foretell; To decree;...

Definitions

  1. To say beforehand; predict; foretell; To decree;...

Ancestry of “foresay”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishforesayen—
2Old Englishforeseċġanto foresay, foretell, predict, announce, mention...
3Proto-Germanicfuraisagjanąto say beforehand; to predict
4Proto-Germanicfurai-before, in front of; fore-, pre-
5Proto-Germanicfuraibefore, in front of; before, in front
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →