betoken

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bɪˈtoʊkən/ UK /bɪˈtəʊkən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to be a sign of; to indicate or foreshadow

The dark clouds betokened the storm that would soon break.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to be a sign of; to... indicate signify denote portend presage foreshadow bespeak

Word family

Related forms token

Etymology

From Middle English bitacnen, from be- (intensive) + tacnen ('to signify'), from Old English tācnian, from tācen ('token, sign').

be- Old English tācen Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# betoken

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /bɪˈtoʊkən/
**IPA (UK):** /bɪˈtəʊkən/

## Meanings
1. to be a sign of; to indicate or foreshadow

## Examples
- The dark clouds betokened the storm that would soon break.

## Synonyms
- indicate
- signify
- denote
- portend
- presage
- foreshadow
- bespeak

## Related Forms
- token

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: be-
- Root: tācen

## Etymology
From Middle English bitacnen, from be- (intensive) + tacnen ('to signify'), from Old English tācnian, from tācen ('token, sign').

## AI Etymology
Betoken is a verb meaning "to be a sign of; to indicate or foreshadow". Historically, it is from Middle English bitacnen, from be- (intensive) + tacnen ('to signify'), from Old English tācnian, from tācen ('token, sign'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: betoken is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old English be- with Old English tācen. A close English family member is token.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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