forespeak

verb

1. (archaic, transitive)To foretell, to predict.

   “Rejoice sister, for the same word that forespaketh trouble, doth certify us of the glory consequent.”

   “chriſt foreſpeaketh his owne Death mat[thew] 16, 21”

   “He [Jesus] had Iohn Baptiſt his forerunner, and cryer, foreſpoken of the Meſſiah: […]”

   “Why la; I knew't, this Propheticall tongue of mine never faild me; my mother was halfe a witch, never any thing that ſhe foreſpake, but came to paſſe: […]”

   “The same Henry of Ritchmond (after Henry the seavnth) I know not by what provydence or prophecy forsaw that his sonne Henry was not lyke to please god so well to have the kingdome established in his posterytye and thearfore matched his eldest Dawghter into Skotland thearby as yt wear forspeaking a happy conjunction of thease two noble realms […]”

2. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative spelling of forspeak.

   “Thou haſt foreſpoke my being in theſe warres, / And ſay'ſt, it is not fit.”

   “How are my powres fore-spoke? what strange distaste is this?”

   “"I take ye a' to witness, gude people," said Mortheugh, "that she threatens me wi' mischief, and forespeaks me. If onything but gude happens to me or my fiddle this night, I'll make it the blackest night's job she ever stirred in. […]"”

   “"Dinna forespeak them, woman! dinna forespeak them!" said the man with a dark frown, and with equal earnestness, but with a tinge of superstitious alarm in his voice and manner. "They wud fain hae your good word, an' no your evil tongue with them; and so come, good wife, tell us what ken ye—what's biding them?—come, what have they to do?"”

   “When a healthy child suddenly becomes sickly, and no one can account for the change, the child is said to be "forespoken." Or when a stout man or woman becomes hypochondriac, or affected with nervous complaints, he or she is "forespoken." Some one has perhaps said "He's a bonny bairn," or "Thou ar' lookin weel the day;" but they have spoken with an ill tongue. They have neglected to add, "God save the bairn," or, "Safe be thou," &c.”