Forbid Definition

fər-bĭd, fôr-
forbad, forbade, forbidden, forbidding, forbids
verb
forbad, forbade, forbidden, forbidding, forbids
To command (someone) not to do something.
I forbid you to go.
American Heritage
To rule against; not permit; prohibit.
Webster's New World
To command to stay away from; exclude or bar from.
Webster's New World
To have the effect of preventing; preclude.
Discretion forbids a reply.
American Heritage
To make impossible; prevent.
Webster's New World

Origin of Forbid

  • From Middle English forbeden, from Old English forbēodan (“to forbid, prohibit, restrain, refuse, repeal, annul”), equivalent to for- (“from, away”) +‎ bid (“to offer, proclaim”). Cognate with Dutch verbieden (“to forbid”), German verbieten (“to forbid”), Danish forbyde (“to forbid”), Swedish förbjuda (“to forbid”), Gothic (faurbiudan).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English forbidden, forbeden from Old English forbēodan bheudh- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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