forbear Hear it!

forbear¹ Definition

for·bear (fôr ber)

transitive verb -·bore or Archaic-·bare, -·borne, -·bear·ing

  1. to refrain from; avoid or cease (doing, saying, etc.)
  2. Now Chiefly Dial. to endure; tolerate

Etymology: ME forberen < OE forberan: see for- & bear

intransitive verb

  1. to refrain or abstain
  2. to keep oneself in check; control oneself under provocation

forbear¹ Related Forms
for·bearer noun for·bear·ingly adverb
forbear² Definition

for·bear (fôrber′)

noun

forebear

forbear Synonyms

forbear

v.

cease, refrain, pause; see abstain. See syn. study at abstain.

forbear Usage Examples

Object

  • patience: They deal with the eradication of defilements so that we have forbearing patience.

Converse of object

  • do: What from the sounds Of organ, fife or lute To him redounds, Who doth no sin forbear?

Adjective modifier

  • scarce: Even the massed ranks of UKIP could scarce forbear to cheer.
  • illustrious: Arrayed in their striking robes they have once again taken up the duties of their illustrious forbears.
  • own: Like most of this community, his own forbears had origins in Latvia and Lithuania.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: A woman could not forbear declaring openly that her faith had saved her.
  • now: However, she could not now forbear; for the love of Christ constrained her.

Noun used with modifier

  • cannot: But I cannot forbear observing, that I should be more obliged to them for the delivery of more facts from which to reason.
  • thou: If thou forbear not, I will indeed stone thee: Now get away from me for a good long while!

Infinitive complement

  • say: But I forbear to say more on a subject which is forbidden.
  • sue: Or it can be for something of value, like forbearing to sue, or for marriage.
  • give: I forbear to give here a larger Abstract of my Letter to D r Worth.
  • read: For the books we now forbear to read we shall one day be endued with wisdom and knowledge.

Present participle complement

  • work: Then thirdly in verse 6: ' Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Browse dictionary entries near forbear

  1. forbade
  2. forb
  3. foray
  4. forasmuch as
  5. forasmuch
  6. foraminifer
  7. foramen ovale
  8. foramen magnum
  9. foramen
  10. foram
  1. forbearance
  2. Forbes 400
  3. forbid
  4. forbiddance
  5. forbidden
  6. forbidden fruit
  7. forbidding
  8. forbore
  9. forborne
  10. forby