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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

for·bear1

Audio Help [fawr-bair] Pronunciation Key verb, -bore, -borne, -bear·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to refrain or abstain from; desist from.

2.	to keep back; withhold.

3.	Obsolete. to endure.

–verb (used without object)

4.	to refrain; hold back.

5.	to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME forberen, OE forberan. See for-, bear¹

]

—Related forms

for·bear·er, noun

for·bear·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. forgo, sacrifice, renounce.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
forbear

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

for·bear2

Audio Help [fawr-bair] Pronunciation Key

–noun

forebear.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

for·bear¹ Audio Help   (fôr-bâr') Pronunciation Key
v.   for·bore (-bôr', -bōr'), for·borne (-bôrn', -bōrn'), for·bear·ing, for·bears

v.   tr.

To refrain from; resist: forbear replying. See Synonyms at refrain¹.
To desist from; cease.
Obsolete To avoid or shun.

v. intr.

To hold back; refrain.
To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation.

[Middle English forberen, from Old English forberan, to endure; see bher-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

for·bear'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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for·bear² Audio Help (fôr'bâr', fōr'-) Pronunciation Key
n. Variant of forebear.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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fore·bear also for·bear Audio Help (fôr'bâr', fōr'-) Pronunciation Key
n. A person from whom one is descended; an ancestor. See Synonyms at ancestor.

[Middle English forbear : fore-, fore- + beer, one who is (from ben, to be; see be).]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
forbear (v.)

"to abstain," O.E. forberan "bear up against, control one's feelings, endure," from for + beran "to bear" (see bear (v.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
forbear (n.)

1470, from fore "before" + be-er "one who exists."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

forbear
noun
1.	a person from whom you are descended [syn: forebear]
verb
1.	refrain from doing; "she forbore a snicker"
2.	resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping" [syn: refrain] [ant: act]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Forbear

For*bear"\, n. [See Fore, and Bear to produce.] An ancestor; a forefather; -- usually in the plural. [Scot.] "Your forbears of old." --Sir W. Scott.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Forbear

For*bear"\, v. i. [imp. Forbore(Forbare, [Obs.]); p. p. Forborne; p. pr. & vb. n. Forbearing.] [OE. forberen, AS. forberan; pref. for- + beran to bear. See Bear to support.]

1. To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay.

Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? --1 Kinds xxii. 6.

2. To refuse; to decline; to give no heed.

Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. --Ezek. ii. 7.

3. To control one's self when provoked.

The kindest and the happiest pair Will find occasion to forbear. --Cowper.

Both bear and forbear. --Old Proverb.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Forbear

For*bear"\, v. t. 1. To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; to give up; as, to forbear the use of a word of doubdtful propriety.

But let me that plunder forbear. --Shenstone.

The King In open battle or the tilting field Forbore his own advantage. --Tennyson.