The word “foretell” has long served as a literary device to evoke the power of prophecy and the inevitability of future events. In some texts, authors use it to contrast predictability on a grand scale with the unpredictability of individual actions, as seen in Doyle’s remark on average behavior [1, 2]. In other works, “foretell” carries a mystical weight, suggesting not merely a prediction but a divinely inspired insight into events that span both imminent minutes and whole centuries, a nuance captured by Twain [3, 4, 5]. Poets like Walter Scott employ it to heighten dramatic tension and foreshadow critical climaxes [6, 7], while in tales and historical commentaries—from Grimms’ fairy narratives [8, 9] to Augustine’s reflective meditations [10, 11]—it underscores our perennial fascination with knowing what lies ahead.