[1555–65; fore- + doom]This word is first recorded in the period 1555–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: clearance, incompatible, review, social, straddlefore- is a prefix meaning “before” (in space, time, condition, etc.), “front,” “superior,”etc. Other words that use the affix fore- include: forecast, forecastle, forehead, foreman, foretell