Definition

1. Verb (past participle of foreknow):
   • To have knowledge of something before it happens: "foreknown" describes an event or fact that was known in advance, typically through foresight, prophecy, or divine knowledge.
   • To have anticipated: It implies that the information was possessed prior to the occurrence.

Usage Examples

• Verb (past participle, often used in passive constructions):
  • The outcome of the election was foreknown by the analysts. (The result was anticipated before the votes were counted.)
  • His betrayal had been foreknown by the king, yet he trusted him anyway. (The king was aware of the betrayal in advance.)
  • These events were foreknown from ancient times. (They were predicted or understood beforehand.)

Advanced Usage

• In theological contexts: "foreknown" often refers to God's omniscience, where future events are known before they occur.
  • According to the doctrine, all human actions are foreknown by the divine. (God has complete prior knowledge of all events.)
• In literary or formal writing: Used to describe a sense of inevitability or predestination.
  • The tragedy was foreknown, but no one could prevent it. (The disaster was anticipated, yet unavoidable.)

Variants and Related Words

• Foreknow (verb, base form): to know in advance.
  • Only a prophet could foreknow such a disaster. (To have prior knowledge.)
• Foreknowledge (noun): knowledge of something before it happens.
  • Her foreknowledge of the storm saved many lives. (Her advance awareness.)
• Foreknown is the past participle of ; it is not used as an adjective but as a verb form.

Synonyms

• Anticipated: known or expected before happening.
• Foreseen: seen or known in advance.
• Predicted: declared or indicated beforehand.
• Precognized: known through extrasensory perception (rare).

Related Idioms

• To know something in advance: a common paraphrase for "foreknown," though not an idiom per se.
  • The plan was known in advance, so the surprise was ruined. (Foreknown information.)
• A foregone conclusion: an outcome that is certain or known before it happens.
  • The match was a foregone conclusion, as the champion's victory was foreknown. (The result was inevitable and predicted.)

Note on Usage

• "Foreknown" is primarily used in formal, literary, or theological writing. In everyday speech, it is replaced by phrases like "known in advance" or "foreseen." It is rarely used in modern conversational English.