View synonyms for

betoken

[ bih-toh-kuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to give evidence of; indicate:
to betoken one's fidelity with a vow; a kiss that betokens one's affection.
to be or give a token or sign of; portend:
a thunderclap that betokens foul weather; an angry word that betokens hostility.

betoken

/ ��ɪˈ��əʊ��ə�� /

verb

to indicate; signify
black clothes betoken mourning
to portend; augur

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Word History and Origins

Origin of betoken¹

First recorded in 1125–75, betoken is from the Middle English word bitocnen, bitacnen. See be-, token

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The Wiseman reference betokens a certain seriousness on the part of the creators, an awareness that people might be watching who know a thing or two about the subject.

From

Red Friday betokens an upcoming home game for the Kansas City Chiefs.

From

The statistics betokened a return to artistic health for the 41 theaters of Broadway, forced to shut down for 15 months starting in March 2020 because of the pandemic.

From

This “Cyrano” centers the freedom that new forms of drama betoken, and all the ways that the writing of the past can feed them — from Rostand to Emily Dickinson.

From

Set designer Donald Eastman places the action in an airy courtyard of broken concrete slabs — the cracks in the cement betokening the fissures that will symbolically swallow up Floyd.

From

to blame, be bet one's ass

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