foredeem

English

Alternative forms

• foredeme (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English *foredemen, from Old English foredēman (“to prejudge”), equivalent to fore- +‎ deem.

Verb

foredeem (third-person singular simple present foredeems, present participle foredeeming, simple past and past participle foredeemed)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To judge, form a judgement of, or declare beforehand; foretell; forecast; presage.
   • 1560, Geneva Bible:

   Which [maid] could guess and foredeem of things past, present, and to come.

2. (transitive) To deem or account in advance; consider; take for granted; expect.
   • 1564, Nicholas Udall, Apophthegmatum opus (originally by Erasmus)

     And of a beste, then fordeme the worst frende it was more standing with humanitee and gentlenesse to hope the best, then to foredeme the worste

   • 1612, John Webster, The White Devil:

     Laugh at your misery, as foredeeming you / An idle meteor.

   • 1918, John Duncan Quackenbos, Magnhild: a tale of psychic love:

     The doctor was as curious to learn how his suggestions would affect the conduct of Mrs. Radford when she should report to Blackwood, and he rightly foredeemed an early conference at the Lexington Avenue residence.

Synonyms

• (to deem beforehand): forehold, prejudge

Related terms

• foredoom

See also

• fordeem

Anagrams

• freedome