forecast

Etymology

From Middle English forecasten, forcasten, equivalent to fore- + cast. The noun is from Middle English forecast, forcast.

verb

1. To estimate how something will be in the future.
   to forecast the weather, or a storm
   to forecast a rise in prices
   Within six months, the total number of passengers forecast to use the line in the entire first year (650,000) had already been passed. For the first 12 months, the figure was in excess of 1.2 million. And overall, it has grown year-on-year, reaching over two million in 2018-19. May 6 2020, Graeme Pickering, “Borders Railway: time for the next step”, in Rail, page 52
2. To foreshadow; to suggest something in advance.
3. (obsolete) To contrive or plan beforehand.

noun

1. An estimation of a future condition.
   1. A prediction of the weather.
      What's the forecast for tomorrow?
2. (gambling) exacta