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betoken - 5 dictionary results

be⋅to⋅ken

   [bi-toh-kuhn]
–verb (used with object)
1. to give evidence of; indicate: to betoken one's fidelity with a vow; a kiss that betokens one's affection.
2. to be or give a token or sign of; portend: a thunderclap that betokens foul weather; an angry word that betokens hostility.
Origin:
1125–75; ME bitocnen, bitacnen. See be-, token
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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be·to·ken     (bĭ-tō'kən)  Pronunciation Key 
tr.v.   be·to·kened, be·to·ken·ing, be·to·kens
To be or give a sign or portent of. See Synonyms at indicate.

[Middle English bitoknen : bi-, be- + toknen, to signify (from Old English tācnian; see deik- in Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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betoken 
c.1175, from be- + O.E. tacnian "to signify," from tacn "sign" (see token).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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betoken

verb
1. be a signal for or a symptom of; "These symptoms indicate a serious illness"; "Her behavior points to a severe neurosis"; "The economic indicators signal that the euro is undervalued" [syn: bespeak] 
2. indicate by signs; "These signs bode bad news" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Betoken

Be*to"ken\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betokened; p. pr. & vb. n. Betokening.]

1. To signify by some visible object; to show by signs or tokens.

A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow . . . Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. --Milton.

2. To foreshow by present signs; to indicate something future by that which is seen or known; as, a dark cloud often betokens a storm.

Syn: To presage; portend; indicate; mark; note.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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