Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Past participle of foreknow
  • adjective anticipated or predicted

Etymologies

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Examples

  • 'When it is increased to certainty, freedom ceases, because that cannot be certainly foreknown, which is not certain at the time; but if it be certain at the time, it is a contradiction in terms to maintain that there can be afterwards any contingency dependent upon the exercise of will or any thing else.'

    Life of Johnson Boswell, James, 1740-1795 1887

  • 'When it is increased to _certainty_, freedom ceases, because that cannot be certainly foreknown, which is not certain at the time; but if it be certain at the time, it is a contradiction in terms to maintain that there can be afterwards any _contingency_ dependent upon the exercise of will or any thing else.'

    Life of Johnson, Volume 3 1776-1780 James Boswell 1767

  • Right, but that's a rather rigid view as though "foreknown" can't be a part of an overall foreordained scheme.

    It Is Written: LOST and Slumdog Millionaire, Peter and Judas, Ben and John James F. McGrath 2009

  • Earthly occurrences and objects are not only regarded as "foreknown" by

    History of Dogma, Volume 1 (of 7) Adolph Harnack 1890

  • In designating the latter as "foreknown" by God, the primary idea is not to ennoble the creature, but rather to bring to light the wisdom and power of God.

    History of Dogma, Volume 1 (of 7) Adolph Harnack 1890

  • For so the Son of God was "foreknown" (so the Greek for "foreordained," 1Pe 1: 20) to be the sacrificial Lamb, not against, or without His will, but His will rested in the will of the Father; this includes self-conscious action; nay, even cheerful acquiescense.

    Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 1871

  • And everything after the fact so foreknown, the game itself sometimes already in the past while he still described it; often the afternoon papers were on the streets with the final box score while he described for his listeners the seventh-inning stretch or reported a struggle in the box seats over the recovery of a foul ball -- his foreknowledge hindsight, a coy tool of suspense: DiMaggio swings.

    Style in Fiction 2009

  • Although, to Augustine, the Salvation of the Elect was foreknown by God before the creation of the universe, the Church also plays a vital role in Salvation.

    Augustine vs. Pelagius Part Two - Grace, Salvation, and Redemption | Heretical Ideas Magazine 2009

  • If something is foreordained, rather than foreknown, then I do think the issue of responsibility exists.

    It Is Written: LOST and Slumdog Millionaire, Peter and Judas, Ben and John James F. McGrath 2009

  • It is all foreknown and foretold by the chorus - as on any stage in ancient Athens.

    Peter Stothard - Times Online - WBLG: 2009

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