To be a sign or indication of something; to suggest or hint that something will happen.
From Old English 'betacnian', combining 'be-' with 'token'. Originally meant 'to signify' or 'to indicate', the word has meant 'to show as a sign' since medieval times.
When something 'betokens' an event, it's literally being a 'token' or sign pointing toward the future—like when dark clouds betoken a storm, the clouds are nature's messengers!
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