Foregone for Dummies

Foregone is a word that we can use when we want to describe something that has already happened or been decided beforehand. It means that a particular action or event has already been anticipated or taken into account, even before it actually occurs. Picture a situation where you and your friend are planning to have a picnic in the park. However, the weather forecast predicts rain, so you both decide to bring umbrellas just in case. In this case, the possibility of rain has already been foregone or considered beforehand. It's like you already know what might happen and you're preparing for it.

In a more general sense, "foregone" can also be used to mean something that is inevitable or unavoidable. It suggests that a certain outcome is already determined or expected because of previous actions, circumstances, or decisions. Imagine you were playing a board game where you have to move along a path, and you already know that there's a bridge ahead that you can't cross because it's broken. You already know, without a doubt, that you will have to take a different route. In this case, the fact that you can't cross the broken bridge is a foregone conclusion. It's something that you already know will happen because of the situation that has been set up.

So, essentially, "foregone" means that something has already been thought about, planned for, or determined ahead of time. It refers to a situation or outcome that has already been considered or known before it actually takes place. It's like having the answer to a question before it's even asked or knowing the result of a game before it's played. It emphasizes the idea of anticipation, certainty, and predictability, as if we have already seen the future and prepared ourselves accordingly.