prescient
Meaning: Having or showing knowledge of events before they take place; possessing foresight.
Prescient describes predictions or insights that prove remarkably accurate. 'A prescient warning,' 'prescient observations,' and 'with prescient accuracy' are standard collocations. The word is most often applied retrospectively — we call someone prescient after their predictions come true. It is common in book reviews, political analysis, and technology commentary, where past predictions about current realities are assessed. The noun form 'prescience' is equally well established.
Examples
- The author's prescient warnings about the fragility of the financial system went largely unheeded at the time. 那位作者关于金融体系脆弱性的先见之明的警告,在当时基本未被采纳。Las prescientes advertencias del autor sobre la fragilidad del sistema financiero fueron ignoradas en gran medida en su momento.金融システムの脆さに対するその著者の先見の明ある警告は、当時ほとんど顧みられなかった。금융 시스템의 취약성에 대한 그 저자의 선견지명 있는 경고는 당시 대부분 무시되었다.
- In a prescient essay written in 1995, she anticipated the rise of social media and its effects on democracy. 在1995年发表的一篇富有远见的文章中,她预见了社交媒体的兴起及其对民主的影响。En un presciente ensayo escrito en 1995, anticipó el auge de las redes sociales y sus efectos sobre la democracia.1995年に書かれた先見の明に満ちたエッセイの中で、彼女はソーシャルメディアの台頭とその民主主義への影響を予見していた。1995년에 쓴 선견지명에 가득 찬 에세이에서, 그녀는 소셜 미디어의 부상과 그것이 민주주의에 미칠 영향을 예견했다.
- His prescient decision to invest in renewable energy a decade ago has paid handsome dividends. 十年前他投资可再生能源的先见之明之举,已带来丰厚的回报。Su presciente decisión de invertir en energías renovables hace una década le ha reportado pingües beneficios.10年前に再生可能エネルギーに投資するという彼の先見の明ある判断は、大きな利益をもたらしている。10년 전 재생에너지에 투자하기로 한 그의 선견지명 있는 결정은 큰 이익을 안겨 주었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: media, academic, literary
Tone: positive
Origin & History
From Latin praescientem (foreknowing), present participle of praescire (to know beforehand), from prae- (before) + scire (to know). The word entered English in the early 17th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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