precurse/foretell, foreshadow, preface, anticipate, precede: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, March 15, 2012

precurse/foretell, foreshadow, preface, anticipate, precede
Tempted to “precurse” that guy who looks like he might be going to cut into the lane ahead of you? Until recently “precurse” as a verb was a rare archaic word, but lately people have been using it to mean “be a precursor to.” Use a more ordinary and precise word like “foretell,” “foreshadow,” “preface,” “anticipate,” or “precede.”