betoken

/bɪˈtoʊkən/

Other forms: betokened; betokens; betokening

A dark sky full of clouds might betoken a thunderstorm. In other words, the clouds indicate or point to the fact that a thunderstorm is on its way.

You're most likely to come across the word betoken in an English class or a book, since it's primarily a literary word used to express the idea of signifying or symbolizing something. There's often a sense of mystery around the word; for example, a black cat might betoken bad luck, or be an omen of something slightly scary. However, there are plenty of cheerful examples, like when a ring betokens love.

Definitions of betoken

1. verb

   be a signal for or a symptom of
   synonyms: bespeak, indicate, point, signal

   types:

   augur, auspicate, bode, forecast, foreshadow, foretell, omen, portend, predict, prefigure, presage, prognosticate

   indicate by signs

   mark

   designate as if by a mark

   threaten

   to be a menacing indication of something:"The clouds threaten rain"

   blaze

   indicate by marking trees with blazes

   dimension

   indicate the dimensions on

   signpost

   mark with a signpost, as of a path

   distinguish, signalise, signalize

   make conspicuous or noteworthy

   buoy

   mark with a buoy

   foreshow

   foretell by divine inspiration

   type of:

   tell

   let something be known
2. verb

   indicate by signs
   synonyms: augur, auspicate, bode, forecast, foreshadow, foretell, omen, portend, predict, prefigure, presage, prognosticate

   types:

   threaten

   to be a menacing indication of something:"The clouds threaten rain"

   foreshow

   foretell by divine inspiration

   type of:

   bespeak, indicate, point, signal

   be a signal for or a symptom of