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forbear

 - 8 dictionary results

for⋅bear

1  [fawr-bair] verb, -bore, -borne, -bear⋅ing.
Use forbear in a Sentence
–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-, bear 1

Related forms:
for⋅bear⋅er, noun
for⋅bear⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. forgo, sacrifice, renounce.

for⋅bear

2  [fawr-bair]
–noun
forebear.

fore⋅bear

  [fawr-bair, fohr-]
–noun
Usually, forebears. ancestors; forefathers.
Also, forbear.

Origin:
1425–75; ME (Scots), equiv. to fore- fore- + -bear being, var. of beer; see be, -er 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To forbear
for·bear 1   (fôr-bâr')   
v.   for·bore (-bôr', -bōr'), for·borne (-bôrn', -bōrn'), for·bear·ing, for·bears

v.   tr.

  1. To refrain from; resist: forbear replying. See Synonyms at refrain1.

  2. To desist from; cease.

  3. Obsolete To avoid or shun.

v.   intr.

  1. To hold back; refrain.

  2. 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.
for·bear 2   (fôr'bâr', fōr'-)   
n.  Variant of forebear.
fore·bear also for·bear   (fôr'bâr', fōr'-)   
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).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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

forbear  (n.)
1470, from fore "before" + be-er "one who exists."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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