Future
What we plan for, what's actually coming, or abstraction to defer action.
How We Say It
fyooΒ·chΙr
Where It Comes From
Latin futurus β about to be, going to be. Future participle of esse β to be. Grammatically, the future is just the 'being' that hasn't happened yet. The word entered English in the 14th century.
How It's Been Used
Used politically to defer present action β 'for future generations' licenses sacrifice now for benefits that may never arrive. Also used to make present decisions feel inevitable: 'the future is X' implies resistance is futile. Both moves are worth watching for.