forecast English · revision 7995

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1400}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɔːkɑːst/ ''(UK)''; /ˈfɔɹkæst/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English forcasten, formed from [[fore-]], before, and casten, to contrive, plan (see [[cast]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To scheme, contrive beforehand: forecasting about 1400 and the verb 1413 in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline, 1388 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To predict events is first attested in the late 15th century (1494).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun, forethought, prudence, is from about 1422 (the early 15th century), probably from the verb,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and a conjectural estimate of the future from the 1670s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A Middle English word for weather forecasting, and for divination from the clouds, was aeromancy.^(Etymonline) Fowler (1926) argued that since the verb is recorded 150 years before the noun, the past tense should be forecast, not forecasted.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1388 – to scheme.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1422 – forethought (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1494 – to predict.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670s – a prediction.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To estimate or predict in advance, especially the [[weather]].^(AHD)

+ # To be an early sign of; to [[foreshadow]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[prediction]] of future events or conditions, especially of the weather.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[forecastable]]

+ * [[forecaster]]

+ * [[backcast]]

+ * [[reforecast]]

+ * [[unforecast]]

+ * [[weathercast]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cast]]

+ * [[foresee]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Both forecast and forecasted are used as the past tense, and Fowler preferred forecast.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}