betoken Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb be a signal for or a symptom of
    bespeak; indicate; signal; point.
    • These symptoms indicate a serious illness
    • Her behavior points to a severe neurosis
    • The economic indicators signal that the euro is undervalued
  2. verb indicate by signs
    omen; prefigure; auspicate; bode; portend; foreshadow; predict; foretell; augur; prognosticate; forecast; presage.
    • These signs bode bad news

WordNet


Be*to"ken transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Betokened present participle & verbal noun Betokening
Definitions
  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 1913