foreshadow v.

Middle English for-, fore-, from Old English fore-, often for- or foran-, from fore (adv. & prep.), which was used as a prefix in Old English as in other Germanic languages with a sense of "before in time, rank, position," etc., or designating the front part or earliest time.

Middle English schadowen, schadwen, Kentish ssedwi, "provide, cover, or overspread with shade, protect from the sun or other light" (mid-14c.), from late Old English sceadwian "to protect as with covering wings" (also see overshadow), from the root of shadow (n.). Similar formation in Old Saxon skadoian, Dutch schaduwen, Old High German scatewen, German (über)schatten.

From late 14c. as "cast a shadow over" (literal and figurative), from early 15c. as "mark (in illustration, etc.) with slight gradations of color or light." The meaning "to follow like a shadow" is attested once c. 1600 and not again until 1872. Related: Shadowed; shadowing.