v. [f. FORE- pref. + SIGNIFY v.] trans. To signify beforehand.
a. To betoken beforehand, prefigure, typify.
1565. Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 348. In the Sacrament it selfe there is a thing foresignified, that we shall be.
1613–8. S. Daniel, The Collection of the Historie of England, 57. An exceeding great Ecclipse of the Sunne, which was taken to fore-signifie his [Henry I.’s] death; for it followed shorly after in the thirty fiue yeare of his raigne.
1697. Dryden, Virgil, Life (1721), I. 63. He hardly ever describes the rising of the Sun, but with some Circumstance, which fore-signifies the Fortune of the Day.
1860. Pusey, The Minor Prophets, 559. That symbolic Blood, by which, foresignifying the new Covenant, He made them His own people.
† b. To intimate beforehand, foretell. With simple obj. or with object sentence. Obs.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxii. § 8. Christ had foresignified that when himselfe should be taken from them his absence would soone make them apt to fast.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, V. vi. § 3. His death, euen whilest yet it was only drawing neere, was foresignified vnto Perseus, by Calligenes the Physician.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 701. [Spectres] sometimes do fore-signifie unto men future events, both Visibly appearing to them and sending forth audible voyces.
1695. Bp. Patrick, Comm. Gen., 271. But it is a better Observation, That God hereby fore-signified their Sins should be expiated by Sacrifices.
Hence Foresignifying vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1592. trans. Junius on Rev. vi. 1. The foresignifying, the caution, and the execution of all the evils, which God powreth out upon this world.
1860. Pusey, The Minor Prophets, 285. Jonah, in that he built him a tabernacle and sat over against Nineveh, awaiting what should happen to it, wore a different, foresignifying character.
