Definitions

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • A prefix to verbs, having usually the force of a negative or privative. It often implies also loss, detriment, or destruction, and sometimes it is intensive, meaning utterly, quite thoroughly, as in forbathe.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • prefix no longer productive Meaning "far", "away"; "from", "out" e.g. forbid, forget, forsay; forbear, fordeem.
  • prefix no longer productive Meaning "completely", "to the fullest extent" e.g. fordo; superseded by combinations with "up" in senses where no upward movement is involved, e.g. forgive = give up (one's offenses), forgather = "gather up", forbeat = "beat up", etc.
  • prefix dialectal Very; excessively.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English for-, vor-, from Old English for-, fer-, fær-, fyr- ("far, away, completely", prefix), from the merger of Proto-Germanic *fra- ("away, away from"; see fro, from) and *fur-, *far- (“through, completely, fully”), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-, *per-, *pr-. Cognate with Scots for-, West Frisian fer-, for-, Dutch ver-, German ver-, Swedish för-, Danish for-, Norwegian for-, Latin per-. More at for.

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Examples

  • Although I was looking at all of the stained-glass windows above me in awe, there was one in particular I was looking for- the "Space Window", which I had read contained an actual moon rock brought back by the Apollo 11 mission.

    Zoe P. Strassfield: Space History in DC: The Space Window Zoe P. Strassfield 2011

  • Although I was looking at all of the stained-glass windows above me in awe, there was one in particular I was looking for- the "Space Window", which I had read contained an actual moon rock brought back by the Apollo 11 mission.

    Zoe P. Strassfield: Space History in DC: The Space Window Zoe P. Strassfield 2011

  • Of course, Stanley's wife, Ellie Joan Bennett, wants Kay to have the elaborate nuptials she never did, so Stanley finds himself accosted by the exhausting, never-ending business of planning-and paying for- a wedding.

    John Farr: Elizabeth Taylor: Star John Farr 2011

  • Of course, Stanley's wife, Ellie Joan Bennett, wants Kay to have the elaborate nuptials she never did, so Stanley finds himself accosted by the exhausting, never-ending business of planning-and paying for- a wedding.

    John Farr: Elizabeth Taylor: Star John Farr 2011

  • As the afterglow of the 36 hour Obama social media blitz wears off, Brazilians need to ask themselves just how much they want to adopt- and pay the price for- the US style business-to-business lifestyle and economic model that he was selling.

    Eric Ehrmann: Brazil Unions Flex Muscles as Obama Afterglow Fades Eric Ehrmann 2011

  • Although I was looking at all of the stained-glass windows above me in awe, there was one in particular I was looking for- the "Space Window", which I had read contained an actual moon rock brought back by the Apollo 11 mission.

    Zoe P. Strassfield: Space History in DC: The Space Window Zoe P. Strassfield 2011

  • As the afterglow of the 36 hour Obama social media blitz wears off, Brazilians need to ask themselves just how much they want to adopt- and pay the price for- the US style business-to-business lifestyle and economic model that he was selling.

    Eric Ehrmann: Brazil Unions Flex Muscles as Obama Afterglow Fades Eric Ehrmann 2011

  • And in desperation, Zoran managed to slam his head for- ward against the hilt of the dagger, driving it in even deeper.

    Star Trek® New Frontier Peter David 1997

  • And in desperation, Zoran managed to slam his head for- ward against the hilt of the dagger, driving it in even deeper.

    Star Trek® New Frontier Peter David 1997

  • And in desperation, Zoran managed to slam his head for- ward against the hilt of the dagger, driving it in even deeper.

    Star Trek® New Frontier Peter David 1997

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