betoken

Meaning

1. To signify by some visible object; show by signs or tokens.
2. To foreshow by present signs; indicate something future by that which is seen or known.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɪˈtoʊ.kən/

Etymology

From Middle English bitoknen, bitacnen, from Old English betācnian (“to betoken, signify, designate”). Equivalent to be- + token. Cognate with Dutch betekenen (“to mean, signify”), German bezeichnen (“to call, designate”), Swedish beteckna (“to represent, designate, indicate”) and Danish betegne (“to represent, designate, indicate”).