Sentence:  The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been <WSD>predicted</WSD> by theorists sometimes decades earlier. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To make a prediction: to forecast, foretell, or estimate a future event on the basis of knowledge and reasoning; to prophesy a future event on the basis of mystical knowledge or power.