foreshadowing
|fore-shad-ow-ing|
B2
🇺🇸
/fɔrˈʃædoʊɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/fɔːˈʃædəʊɪŋ/
(foreshadow)
indicate future
Etymology
Etymology Information
'foreshadow' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'forshadwen,' where 'fore-' meant 'before' and 'shadwen' meant 'to cast a shadow.'
Historical Evolution
'forshadwen' transformed into the modern English word 'foreshadow' through gradual linguistic evolution.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to cast a shadow before,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to indicate or suggest beforehand.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.
The dark clouds in the first chapter were a foreshadowing of the storm to come.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/05/22 15:49