Betoken
[bə-TOK-ən]
Part of speech: verb
Origin: Old English, 15th century
1.
Be a sign of; indicate.
2.
Be a warning or indication of (a future event).
Examples of Betoken in a sentence
"A smile that reaches the eyes can betoken genuine happiness."
"The silence of the orchestra pit betokened the imminent start of the performance."
About Betoken
"Betoken” comes from the Old English verb “betācnian,” meaning “to signify.”
Did you Know?
Betoken is just one of numerous verbs that mean “to be a sign of.” Other verbs include “denote,” “foreshadow,” “forebode,” “foreshow,” “indicate,” and “signify.” There are also some nouns that mean the same thing, such as “portent” and “omen.” For example, “the dove was a good omen for the journey still to come.”
