for·go also fore·goAudio Help (fôr-gō', fōr-) Pronunciation Key
tr.v.
for·went also fore·went (-wěnt'), for·gone also fore·gone (-gôn', -gŏn'), for·go·ing also fore·go·ing, for·goes also fore·goes
To abstain from; relinquish: unwilling to forgo dessert.
[Middle English forgon, from Old English forgān, go away, forgo : for-, for- + gān, to go; see ghē- in Indo-European roots.]
do without or cease to hold or adhere to; "We are dispensing with formalities"; "relinquish the old ideas" [syn: waive]
2.
be earlier in time; go back further; "Stone tools precede bronze tools" [syn: predate] [ant: follow]
3.
lose (s.th.) or lose the right to (s.th.) by some error, offense, or crime; "you've forfeited your right to name your successor"; "forfeited property" [syn: forfeit] [ant: arrogate]
Fore*go"\, v. t. [imp. Forewent 2; p. p. Foregone (?; 115); p. pr. & vb. n. Foregoing.] [See Forgo.]1. To quit; to relinquish; to leave. Stay at the third cup, or forego the place. --Herbert. 2. To relinquish the enjoyment or advantage of; to give up; to resign; to renounce; -- said of a thing already enjoyed, or of one within reach, or anticipated. All my patrimony,, If need be, I am ready to forego. --Milton. Thy lovers must their promised heaven forego. --Keble. [He] never forewent an opportunity of honest profit. --R. L. Stevenson. Note: Forgo is the better spelling etymologically, but the word has been confused with Forego, to go before.