foremath

From fore- +‎ math (“a mowing”), by analogy with aftermath.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɹmæθ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔːmɑːθ/

foremath (plural foremaths)

1. A first mowing; that which is gleaned from a first or prior mowing.
   • 1989, Richard P. Blackmur, James T. Jones, Outsider at the heart of things:

     […] the accidents of itinerary — everything that can be overheard or spied out: everything (in a phrase he used in one of his poems) between the foremath and the aftermath, the early growth and the after growth of the intended harvest.

2. What precedes or produces a particular outcome; events that have yet to occur, or are in the process of occurring.
   • 1920, Rupert Hughs, What's the World Coming To?‎, Digitized edition, Harper & Brothers, published 2006, page 104:

     The aftermath of glory and the foremath of peace would not blend.

   • 1967, Edgar M. Horwood, American Society of Planning Officials‎, Digitized edition, published 2006, page 1:

     I shall ask you to view these remarks in the of "foremath" note rather than a preface or introduction, which imply a knowledge of what follows. I am using the word "foremath" to suggest what precedes without the knowledge of what follows.

   • 1995, William T. Golden, Science and Technology Advice to the President, Congress‎, Transaction Publishers, →ISBN, page 191:

     After delaying the decision for three years, the President eventually endorsed the concept in the foremath of the 1984 Presidential election, ...

• beforemath

• aftermath

• fathomer