Foretoken
hardNegative toneFOR-toh-kun
noun
Definition
A sign of something to come; an omen
Memory hook
FORE-TOKEN: a TOKEN given BEFORE — a sign or warning of something to come.
Examples
“The strange weather was seen as a foretoken of disaster.”
“Many viewed the economic indicators as foretokens of recession.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The strange weather was seen as a ______ of disaster.”
Show answer
foretoken
Categories
GRE Tip
Foretoken is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "portent" or "harbinger" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "aftermath".
Related GRE Words
omen
An event regarded as a sign of future good or evil
portent
A sign or warning that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen
portend
To be a sign or warning that something is likely to happen
augur
To foretell or predict, especially from signs or omens; a prophet or soothsayer
prognosticate
To foretell or prophesy future events
presage
To be a sign or warning of; an omen or portent
Master foretoken and 1,000+ GRE words
Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.