Forethought, n.
A thinking or planning beforehand; prescience; premeditation; forecast; provident care. A sphere that will demand from him forethought, courage, and wisdom. I. Taylor.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Forethought, a.
Thought of, or planned, beforehand; aforethought; prepense; hence, deliberate. "Forethought malice." Bacon.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for forethought; he lists it under anticipation, care, prudence.
Where he writes about it:
Foresight and forethought prevent future evil and secure future good by timely looking forward, and acting upon what is foreseen. — from anticipation
Forethought is thinking in accordance with wise views of the future, and is nearly equivalent to providence, but it is a more popular and less comprehensive term; we speak of man's forethought, God's providence. — from prudence
Synonyms
anticipationcareprudenceantepastanxietyapprehensionattentioncarefulnesscautionchargecircumspectionconcernconsiderationdirectiondiscretionexpectancyexpectationforebodingforecastforesightforetastefrugalityheedhopejudgmentjudiciousnessmanagementoversightperplexityprecautionpresentimentprevisionprovidencesolicitudetroublevigilancewarinesswatchfulnesswisdomworry