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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

For(e)se(e, Foirse(e, v. Also: foirsie. P.t. foirsaw. P.p. foir-, forseyne, -sein(e, fore-, foirsen(e. [ME. forsee, -se, OE. forséon.]

1. tr. To see beforehand; to anticipate as certain or probable.(a) c1460 Consail Wys Man 335.
Forse [thou] a perell ore it cum a1500 Henr. Fab. 1750.
Prudence … garris ane man prouyde and foirse Quhat gude, quhat euill is liklie for to be a1540 Freiris Berw. 487.
For sic causis as he may weill foirse a1568 Scott xxxiv. 138.
Wald ȝe foirse the forme, … Ȝe suld it fynd inorme 1570 Sat. P. xi. 66.
My deir did not forsie … Quhat paine he brocht 1594 Acts IV. 67/1.
Foirseing that his haill woiddis … ar greitlie distroyit 16.. Hist. Kennedy 17.
Forsein [= foreseeing] that the samin suld haue bein reweillit(c) 14.. Acts I. 57/2.
In sodan cases … it micht nocht be foresene to certify the justice apon matteris of the quhilkis he doutis c1460 Consail Wys Man 337.
Lichtlear hurtis that is fore sen, Na wnprowystly cumyne had ben 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1699.
Gif this burges sic case had weill foirsene, Sic gredynes, doutles, than had not bene 1562-3 Winȝet II. 11/20.
As he had forsein the vanitie or rather impietie of this man 1587 Misc. Bann. C. I. 123.
The greit hasard off the Kingis Majesties persoun … being forseine & cleirlie persaiffit be dyvers nobilmen 1622-6 Bisset II. 69/26.
Gif any douttis … (quhilkis can nocht now weill … be previded and foirsene) happynnis to result

b. To guard or provide against. a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxvii. 79.
Thairfoir thir forane fayis sa foirsie That cachit we be nocht withe the efter clap c1590 Fowler II. 120/5.
Let him … forse that he be not hated 1622-6 Bisset I. 107/12.
To foirsee the corruptioun incressand in the said college

c. To consider beforehand. 1592 Acts III. 627.
For dyuerss vtheris wechtie caussis and guid considerationis foirsene be his hienes c1650 Spalding I. 118.
This article wes foirsein by the tables at Edinbrugh, and ordour givin to refuse the samen

d. To get knowledge of. 1584 Waus Corr. II. 309.
Incace the said William … [chance] to forsee ane ressonabill blok of landis to his utillitie and proffit

2. To catch sight of beforehand. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1952.
He him foirsaw, and fenȝeit to be schent

3. To see to, make ready, provide, beforehand. Also absol. To make provision. c1475 Wall. vii. 976.
Thar thai lugyt … Quhill tyme thai had forseyne thair ordinance Ib. x. 913.
The king commaund … Thai suld forse a lordschip to Wallace 1513 Doug. x. xii. 134.
Thou sall de first, quhat evyr to me forseyn Or previdyt has myghty Jove 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 513/2.
All … the provisionis and necessaris concerning us that suld be done be our casualite to provide, forsee and furnis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 480.
The father … For the sone did foirse 1567 Sat. P. vii. 25.
To foirse the weill of that countrie 1616 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 345.
I salbe leall and trew … to the burghe … , thair proffeit foirsie

b. To furnish (one) with something. a1578 Pitsc. I. 21/32.
Nocht being prowydit nor weill forseine in tyme thairfoir

4. To inform, make (one) aware of something.(a) 1575 Reg. Morton I. 81.
I salbe reddie at all tymes … quhen ȝe salhappin to haue ado, I being deulie foirseyne and aduerteist heirof 1583 Rep. Menzies MSS. 19.
This is till mak yow foirseine that [etc.] Ib.
That I may latt his lordship be foirsene thairof 1615 Highland P. III. 255.
Ȝour lo[rdship] accepting so weill of my last newis … hes imboldonit mee … to foirsee ȝour lo[rdship] of this lait accidence 1622-6 Bisset I. 134/33.
That the advocattis of the pairtie defendare mycht be foirsene of the calling of the first summonis 1637 Monro Exped. 139.
Whereof the Felt-marshall … being made fore-seene, he with all his forces did breake up(b) 1577 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 383.
The said Mr. Alexander … was absent from the last Assemblie, and … not forsein of the things done therin 1583 Reg. Morton I. 137.
He commandit that in all ȝour adois he suld mak him forsein 1603 Moysie 94.
The King … being for seine and advertisit be the watche withdrew to the tour of Falkland 1615 Highland P. III. 276.
I thocht good to mak ȝour lo. forsein of this