| a prefix meaning “away,” “off,” “to the uttermost,” “extremely,” “wrongly,” or imparting a negative or privative force, occurring in verbs and nouns formed from verbs of Old or Middle English origin, many of which are now obsolete or archaic: forbid; forbear; forswear; forbearance. |
| for- pref. Completely; excessively, especially with destructive or detrimental effect: forworn. [Middle English, from Old English; see per1 in Indo-European roots.] |