v. Forms: 2–3 bitacnien, bitocnen, 3 Orm. bitacnenn, 3–4 be-, bi-, bytaken(en, -in(en, 3–6 be-, bi-, bytoken(e, 3 -on(e, 4–5 -yn(e), 4 bytokne, betocne, 6 Sc. betakin, -taikin (? betoke), 4– betoken. (Early ME. bitacnien, later bitok(e)nen, prob. OE. *betácnian, not recorded (but cf. OHG. bizeichanôn, mod.Ger. bezeichnen, Du. beteekenen), f. bi-, BE- + tácnian to signify, f. tácn TOKEN.]
† 1. trans. To signify, mean; to denote, express in words. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 79. Ierusalem bitacneð griþes sihþe.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 17. Ich wille … segge ou þe crede word after word, and þarmid hwat elch word bitocneð.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. ii. 11. Or in other langage or wordes betokenynge the same sentence.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1333. When men intend to betoken the exceeding huge greatnesse of Rome, they terme it the triumphant Rome.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., vi. (1627), 68. When two Substantives come together, betokening divers things.
† b. absol. Obs.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 232. Many that bost themselues to be Christians … tremble at euery mention of it [death], as of a thing betokening vnluckely and vnhappy.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 200. World, may betoken plurally or indefinitely.
† 2. To be a type or emblem of; to typify, symbolize. (Sometimes with obj. clause.) Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 89. Þet lomb bitacnede cristes þrowunge.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 41. Þis ilke tre Bytakens man … Þis fruit bitakens alle oure dedis Both gode and ille.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 118. The paume … bytokneþ trewely … The holy gost of heuene.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., 71. Þe rook … betokenyth okerers and false merchauntz.
1534. More, On the Passion, I. Wks. 1331/2. Thys excellente high sacrament … betokeneth also manyfold merueilous mysteries.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 867. In the Cloud a Bow … Betok’ning peace from God and Cov’nant new.
3. To be a token, sign or omen of; to give promise of, augur, presage.
c. 1205. Lay., 16008. What bitacnieð þa draken þe þene dune makeden.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4598. Þas oþer seuen nede nett Bitakens seuen yer of hunger.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst. 124. Yond starne betokyns … The byrthe of a prynce.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 453. Like a red morn, that ever yet betoken’d Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field.
1635. Swan, Spec. M., v. § 2 (1643), 125. They betoken rain and moist weather.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxix. (1856), 249. Everything betokened a crisis.
4. To give evidence of, point to, indicate, show.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, A viij b. And much it betokynis hardenes.
1602. Shaks., Ham., V. i. 242. This doth betoken The Coarse they follow did with disperate hand Fore do it owne life.
1814. Cary, Dante’s Inf., VII. 114. All naked, and with looks Betokening rage.
1863. Hawthorne, Old Home (1879), 302. As he talked … he betokened in many ways a fine … sensibility.
1871. Macduff, Mem. Patmos, iv. 44. This symbolic number further betokens, that the epistolary addresses were designed as a directory of perpetual obligation.
b. With of. To give indication.
1793. Holcroft, trans. Lavater’s Physiog., xl. 203. As weak hair betokens of fear, so does strong hair courage.
† 5. Used by Wyclif in the sense of ‘set a mark upon’ (L. signare), and ‘presage, predict, prophesy.’
1382. Wyclif, Isa., Prol. And thoȝ … he betocne [v.r. betokeneth] the aȝeencomyng of the puple in to Iewerie. Ibid., John vi. 27. God the fadír bitokenede or markede him [Vulg. signavit].
