forbearv.
/fəˈbɛː/, /fɔːˈbɛː/, U.S. /fərˈbɛ(ə)r/, /fɔrˈbɛ(ə)r/ΚΠ
c1000 Ælfric Hom. in Grein-Wülcker Prosa III. 72 Se mildheorta hælend þe swa micel forbær for us synfullum.
c1386 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 938 I may not..Forbere to ben out of your compagnie.
1570 E. Elviden Neweyeres Gift sig. Biiiv His bounden duetie is For to forbeare the payne.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. i. 114 b Hunting..being an..occasion to use men..to forbeare heate and cold.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > endure patiently [verb (transitive)] > bear with or tolerate
forbearc897
tholec950
bearOE
abidec1300
bidea1325
takec1330
suffer1340
wielda1375
to have patience with (also in, toward)c1384
supportc1384
to sit with ——c1400
sustainc1400
thulgec1400
acceptc1405
to away with1528
brook1530
well away1533
to bear with —1538
digest1553
to comport with1565
stand1567
purse?1571
to put up1573
well away1579
comport1588
fadge1592
abrook1594
to come away1594
to take up with1609
swallow1611
embracea1616
to pack up1624
concocta1627
to set down bya1630
to take with ——1632
tolerate1646
brook1658
stomach1677
pouch1819
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > treat gently [verb (transitive)] > be tolerant of
forbearc897
deport1474
spare1535
respect1744
c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care xxi. 150 Ðeah hit mon cuðlice wiete, hit is to forberanne.
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xvii. 17 Hu lange for-bere ic eow.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 95 He..forbere monna hufelnesse þurh his liðnesse.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 162 Unðeawes þet he ear for ber as he ham naut nuste.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 148 Þanne þe guode man..bereþ and uorbereþ alneway þe foles.
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iii. vi. 54 The plente of his grace that hath the forborne.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rev. ii. 2 Thou cannest not forbeare them which are evyll.
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iii. ix. 79 I haue forborne your insolencies.
1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the Second 38 I then, had wrote, What Friends might flatter; prudent Foes forbear.
a. To bear up against, control (emotion or desire). Also reflexive to control one's feelings. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > make emotionally unfeeling [verb (transitive)] > suppress emotions
forbearOE
refrainc1384
repressa1393
subdue1483
suppressa1500
squat1577
to bite in1608
contain?1611
to keep ina1616
swallowa1643
the mind > emotion > calmness > self-possession or self-control > control oneself [verb (reflexive)]
refraina1387
forbeara1400
modify1530
sober1530
OE Guthlac A 804 Þæt beoð husulweras, cempan gecorene..firenlustas forberað in breostum.
OE Beowulf 1877 Þæt he þone breostwylm forberan ne mehte.
c1230 Hali Meid. 17 Onont ti fleschliche wil & ti licomes lust þat tu forberes her.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 24427 Quen i sagh þus all thinges skurn, Vn-feland for þair lauerd murn, Moght i me noght for-ber.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 5005 His sorow might not be forborn.
ΚΠ
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxvi. §1 Hwa mæg forbæran þæt he þæt ne siofige.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 15 Ne beo þu nefre ene wrað þer fore, ah forber for drihtenes luue.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 526 The king ne miȝte tho uorbere, that he ne wep atte laste.
c1300 Beket 72 Hi ne miȝte forbere nomore; And wope also pitousliche.
a. To endure the absence or privation of; to dispense with, do without, spare (a person or thing). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > casting or laying aside > [verb (transitive)] > do without or dispense with
forbearc900
forgoa1175
aspare1377
dispensec1420
missa1450
renouncec1480
sparea1525
afford?1560
free1561
egar1584
suspense1584
dispend1614
to dispense witha1616
waive1669
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) i. xvi. [xxvii.] 70 Forþon seo æftere cneoris..alle gemete is to forbeorenne & to forlætenne.
c1330 Assump. Virg. (B.M. MS.) 60 Þeo þat in þe temple were Ne miȝte noȝt hire forbere.
1469 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 542 Þat lytyll [money] þat I myght for-bere..I haue delyuryd to Dawbeney.
1477 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 605 If Syme myght be forborn, it wer well don that he [etc.].
1562 W. Bullein Bk. Simples f. 30, in Bulwarke of Defence He is the beste bonde slave in the common wealthe, and least can be forborne.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 747 Fruits..Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay Gave elocution to the mute. View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)]
forsakec893
forlet971
to reach upOE
agiveOE
yield?c1225
uptake1297
up-yield1297
yield1297
deliverc1300
to-yielda1375
overgivec1384
grant1390
forbeara1400
livera1400
forgoc1400
upgive1415
permit1429
quit1429
renderc1436
relinquish1479
abandonc1485
to hold up?1499
enlibertyc1500
surrender1509
cess1523
relent1528
to cast up?1529
resignate1531
uprender1551
demit1563
disclaim1567
to fling up1587
to give up1589
quittance1592
vail1593
enfeoff1598
revoke1599
to give off1613
disownc1620
succumb1632
abdicate1633
delinquish1645
discount1648
to pass away1650
to turn off1667
choke1747
to jack up1870
chuck up (the sponge)1878
chuckc1879
unget1893
sling1902
to jack in1948
punt1966
to-leave-
the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)] > part with or let go
twinc1330
forbeara1400
twina1400
to depart withc1485
omit1531
to depart from1548
to leave hold1556
sunderc1600
impart1606
ungrasp1621
disfingera1652
shed1667
to leave go1776
unclutch1816
part1818
dispart with1820
a1400 Coer de L. 419 Hys styropes he forbare.
1430 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy i. vi She hath for~bore Her maydenhead.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 146 Sith I haue this hert lorn, And my goode men forborn.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. i. sig. N6v Whenas my wombe her burdein would forbeare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun
overboweOE
bibughOE
fleea1000
forbowa1000
ashun1000
befleec1000
beflyc1175
bischunc1200
withbuwe?c1225
waive1303
eschew1340
refuse1357
astartc1374
sparec1380
shuna1382
void1390
declinea1400
forbeara1400
shurna1400
avoidc1450
umbeschewc1485
shewe1502
evite1503
devoid1509
shrink1513
schew?a1534
devite1549
fly1552
abstract1560
evitate1588
estrange1613
cut1791
shy1802
skulk1835
side-slip1930
to walk away from1936
punt1969
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14560 Þe land o Iude he has for-born.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 27 I wolde haue toold..But al that thyng I moot as now forbere.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 259 Scho..Forbure the gate for wachis that war thar.
1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. i. ii Offices of honour likewise either to beare them, or forbeare them [was a capitall crime].
1598 B. Yong tr. A. Pérez 2nd Pt. Diana in tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 220 Forbeare us a little..for I will not have you beare witnes to the love that I have to impart.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 755 The beast it selfe liueth euermore in shadowy places, forbearing the sun.
1629 J. Ford Lovers Melancholy iii. 43 Forbeare the roome.
1673 W. Temple Observ. United Provinces i. 39 The people in the Countrey forbear the Market.
5. To abstain or refrain from (some action or procedure); to cease, desist from.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)]
holdc897
forgoa1000
oversitOE
forbearc1200
letc1330
to let bec1385
to lay apart1526
refrain1528
to let pass1530
retainc1540
abstain1578
restrain1594
stay1599
nurture1627
withhold1650
waive1653
inhold1655
withstand1852
skip1961
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > refrain from using or doing
sparec1000
forbearc1200
to let to noughtc1350
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 39 Muneȝeð hem ofte unðewes to forberen and gode þeawes to folȝen.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3454 Þat þai moght noght þair strif for-bere.
c1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 355 And I myghte forbere speche, Seven dayes and seven nyght.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. i. i. f. 6v Forbeare the eting of Swynis flesche.
1655 E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 223 I forebore pressing them further.
1665 Orders Ld. Mayor London in D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year (1722) 51 All publick Assemblies at other Burials are to be forborn during the Continuance of this Visitation.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake ii. 90 Madmen, forbear your frantic jar!
1867 J. G. Whittier Our Master iv The strife of tongues forbear.
6. † b. Nautical. (See quots.) Obsolete.
a. absol. and intransitive. To abstain, refrain. Const. to (also †but) with infinitive, also from, †for, †of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)]
to let bec1000
fastOE
withdraw1297
letc1374
forbearc1375
abstaina1382
sparec1386
respitea1393
to let alonea1400
refraina1402
supersede1449
deport1477
to hold one's handa1500
spare1508
surcease1542
detract1548
to hold back1576
hold1589
to stand by1590
to hold up1596
suspend1598
stickle1684
to hold off1861
to bottle it1988
c1375 XI Pains Hell (Vernon) 110 in Old Eng. Misc. 226 To heere godus wordus þei han for-born.
c1400 Rom. Rose 4751 It is a slowe [i.e. a moth], may not forbere Ragges, ribaned with gold, to were.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 78 Y must here therof abstene and forber.
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 286/1 On the morow forbare I to speake with hym.
1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales iii. v. 72 The Dictator..forbare sometime for making any more [lawes].
a1657 W. Burton Comm. Antoninus his Itinerary (1658) 8 I cannot forbear but transcribe all of it hither.
1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads i. 402 From War forbear.
a1745 J. Swift Henry I in Lett. (1768) IV. 278 He commanded his soldiers to forbear.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 159. ⁋6 Few have repented of having forborne to speak.
1787 A. Hilditch Rosa de Montmorien I. 140 De Beaufort, whom Strickland could not forbear of accusing of unwarrantable caprice.
1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India II. ix. ii. 315 He would have incurred more blame..if he had forborne from attempting to recover them.
1878 B. Taylor Prince Deukalion i. iv Forbear! The knowledge must be mine alone.
1879 M. Arnold Falkland in Mixed Ess. 234 The lovers of Hampden cannot forbear to extol him at Falkland's expense.
ΚΠ
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. vi. 27 Forbeare is to hold still any oare you are commanded.
1727–90 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Forbear [Sea Term], a Word of Command in a Ship's Boat.
7.
a. transitive. To refrain from using, uttering, mentioning, etc.; to withhold, keep back. †Formerly const. from, to, or dative.
ΚΠ
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 1355 As þe truage to rome þat non vorbore nere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 693 Þe scorpion forbar his tunge, Fra bestis þat he lay emonge.
c1430 J. Lydgate Chichevache & Bycorne in R. Dodsley Sel. Coll. Old Plays XII. 334 Meke wyfes..That neither can at bedde ne boord Theyr husbondes nat forbere oon woord.
1580 T. Tusser Fiue Hundred Pointes Good Husbandrie (new ed.) f. 13 The west [wind], to all flowers, may not be forborne.
a1593 C. Marlowe Edward II (1594) sig. L4 Stay a while, forbeare thy bloudie hande.
a1620 M. Fotherby Atheomastix (1622) i. ii. §2. 11 Wee are forced to forbeare the strongest of our Authorities.
1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads i. 206 Hold then. Your sword forbear.
1709 T. Hearne Diary 4 Apr. in Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. Charlet could not forbear his Venom.
1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. i. 437 Forbear that dear, disastrous name.
1808 R. Southey Select. from Lett. (1856) II. 115 You may repent a sarcasm,—you never can repent having forborne one.
1884 J. Ruskin Pleasures of Eng. 16 (note) Gibbon..might have forborne, with grace, his own definition of orthodoxy.
b. reflexive. To restrain oneself, refrain. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (reflexive)]
withholdc1200
withdrawc1290
defendc1350
abstainc1380
holda1400
deport1477
forbear1535
check1581
detract1637
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Rest of Esther xvi. B He coude not forbeare him self from his pryde.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Chron. xxxv. 21 Forbeare thee from medling with God. View more context for this quotation
1852 C. M. Yonge Cameos xii, in Monthly Packet Jan. 20 If it be so, forbear thyself to fight.
1865 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire (new ed.) VIII. lxviii. 370 I forbear myself from entering the lists.
8. † b. Const. of (a thing). Obsolete.
a. To abstain from injuring, punishing, or giving way to resentment against (a person or thing); to spare, show mercy or indulgence to. Now rare. Cf. sense 2, to which this closely approaches.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > compassion > feel pity for [verb (transitive)] > have mercy upon > refrain from afflicting
forbear1154
spare1794
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > withhold (one's hand or a blow) > abstain from injury to
sparec897
forbear1154
1154 Anglo-Saxon Chron. anno 1137 Ouer sithon ne for-baren hi nouther circe ne cyrceiærd.
c1275 Serm. (Cott.) in Old Eng. Misc. 188 Þes persones ich wene, Ne beoþ heo noȝt for-bore.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. iv. 430 He..For-bar hym and hus beste bestes.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 169 No for the pape thai wald no kyrkis forber.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. Q.vv The quycke fire doth not forbeare the wod be it wette or drye.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 43/1 His maister gaue him in charge, not to forbeare his reste.
1606 L. Bryskett Disc. Ciuill Life 27 I craue to be forborne in this your request.
1618 W. Raleigh in W. B. Scoones Four Cent. Eng. Lett. (1880) 37 I forbare all partes of the Spanish Indies.
1655 E. Terry Voy. E.-India 329 That scruple they make in forbearing the lives of the Creatures made for mens use.
1725 D. Defoe Compl. Eng. Tradesman I. xiii. 207 He knows whom he may best push at, and whom best forbear.
1855 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity IV. ix. vii. 153 Those who had so long been forborne in mercy.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Eclogues x, in tr. Virgil in Eng. Verse 67 Ah, may the splinters icy thy delicate feet forbear!
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > protect or defend [verb (transitive)] > spare (a person) from something
forbearc1275
c1275 Passion Our Lord 158 in Old Eng. Misc. 41 Vader..if hit may so beo, Of þis ilche calche nv forber þu me.
a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) ii. xvi. sig. K.iii He woulde pray God to forbeare him of the remnaunt.
c. intransitive (or absol.) To be patient or forbearing; to show forbearance. Const. with.The proverbial phrase to bear and forbear, now taken in this sense, was originally transitive: see quot. 1340 at sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > be patient [verb (intransitive)] > be forbearing or tolerant
to take a person as one finds him (her, etc.)?a1439
forbeara1616
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > be mild, gentle, or tolerant [verb (intransitive)] > be forbearing
sparea1225
forbeara1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) v. iv. 27 Loue, lend me patience to forbeare a while. View more context for this quotation
1683 Apol. Protestants France v. 66 He for~bore beyond all Patience.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. ii. 247 With patience I forbear.
1782 W. Cowper Mutual Forbearance in Poems 349 The kindest and the happiest pair, Will find occasion to forbear.
1826 E. Irving Babylon II. 363 He forbore with Austria.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Two Voices in Poems (new ed.) II. 130 Some..Bore and forbore, and did not tire.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xv. 231 She..forebore with his failings.
9. absolute.1856 J. Bouvier Law Dict. U.S.A. (at cited word) When the creditor agrees to forbear with his debtor.
a. transitive. To refrain from enforcing, pressing, or demanding; not to urge, press, insist on, or exact. Sometimes with double object. Now rare. †Also intransitive with of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > pursue (a matter) no further
to leave (a person or thing) alone (also one)a1475
forbear1570
to let fall1594
fall1630
waive1681
withdraw1781
to leave it at that1861
1570 Abp. M. Parker Let. 27 Dec. in Corr. (1853) (modernized text) 374 I am driven to forbear of my ancient rights.
1583 J. Whitgift Let. in T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. (1655) ix. 148 Desiring your Lordships..to forbear my comming thither.
1633 J. Ford 'Tis Pitty shee's Whore iii. sig. E4 v Let mee aduise you here, to forbeare your suite.
1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. ii. 20 That all the Acts of Oxenford, should from thenceforth be utterly forborne and annulled.
1649 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 49 I desire you to forbear my reasons, till the next return.
1756 S. Johnson Mem. King of Prussia in Lit. Mag. Oct.–Nov. 331 The claim was forborn.
1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia I. iii. v. 240 And the Corpus-Christi idolatries were forborne the Markgraf and his company this time.
b. esp. To abstain from enforcing the payment of (money) after it has become due. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1570 Act 13 Eliz. c. 8 §5 Any Money so to be lent or for~born.
1664 W. Haig in J. Russell Haigs of Bemersyde (1881) x. 273 I can have a friend here that will..forbear it [money] a year and a half.
a1690 S. Jeake Λογιστικηλογία (1696) 577 If an Annuity be for~born, the Paiments increase as well as the Interest.
1827 O. Gregory Hutton's Course Math. (ed. 9) I. 129 The money lent, or forborn, is called the Principal.
1874 Stephen's New Comm. Laws Eng. (ed. 7) II. ii. ii. vi. 161 Such [debts] as were incurred or forborne by means of fraud.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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