Where does “foresight” come from?
Foresight derives from Middle English forsight, a compound of fore- and sight referring to looking ahead or anticipating future events.
foresight (English): The ability to foresee or prepare wisely for the...
Definitions
- The ability to foresee or prepare wisely for the...
Ancestry of “foresight”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | forsight | — |
| 2 | Latin | prōvidentia | The ability to see something in advance; foresight, foreknowledge |
| 3 | Latin | prōvidēns | foreseeing |
| 4 | Latin | prōvideō | to foresee |
| 5 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |