Does this word even exist?

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Thineswar
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Does this word even exist?

Post by Thineswar »

I would like to know of a word that can be used to describe a prediction of both the past and the future. Please help.
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McTag
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Re: Does this word even exist?

Post by McTag »

Hi Thineswar! Are you looking for a noun or a verb?

By definition, a prediction describes a declaration made in advance of an event.
Therefore we cannot predict the past.

If you are looking for a verb, then I have tried to answer your question here:
I think people often use the word predict when talking about the past, so this can be confusing. For example, someone might say "I predict that X (an event in the past) caused Y (an effect noticed in the present)". It might be more suitable to replace the verb 'predict' with the verb 'guess' or 'suppose' or 'suspect'.
E.g. "I suspect that X caused Y." Or "I suspect that gravity caused that apple on the ground to fall from its tree."
"The limits of my language are the limits of my life" Ludwig Wittgenstein
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Thineswar
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Re: Does this word even exist?

Post by Thineswar »

thank you.

but you are missing the point. what happens when you do not know what happened in the past? can it be considered then a prediction?
anyway, my main question is that, is there a word that could describe a prediction made for the future and the past?
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ChefMalo
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Re: Does this word even exist?

Post by ChefMalo »

A guess?
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DavidAmes
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Re: Does this word even exist?

Post by DavidAmes »

A past event implies a future occurrence.

A past event foretells a future occurrence.
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poiuytagna
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Re: Does this word even exist?

Post by poiuytagna »

try omni-
as in omni-present: always happening.

I know it is typically a prefix, but creation of a word is based on the need for it.
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