forbear (2009-09-25)

Part of Speech: verb

Pronunciation: [for-'ber]

Definition: Restrain oneself in order to endure something unpleasant. To avoid.

Usage: Do you feel your spouse pays less attention to what you say than before you were married? This is a common social malady for which today's word is the perfect pill. Never molly-coddle a spouse; rather, try something like this: "I shall no longer forbear the insult of your muddy shoes on the hardwood floors! Out with them! Out! Out! Out!" Your spouse will never look at you the same. Today's word also fits every conversation about eating: "I've tried to forbear the torments of fat-free diets but memories of the delicious flavor of cholesterol always overwhelm me."

Suggested Usage: The verb sounds a bit archaic these days but the noun, "forbearance," is not only current, it very much befits the times: we could use a bit more forbearance around the globe. The verb is irregular: forbore (past tense), forborne (past participle). (The noun "forbear" or "forebear" refers to ancestors: "our forbears founded this nation over 200 years ago.")

Etymology: Old English for(e)- "before, away, reject" which derives from the same source as Greek peri-, Russian pere-, and Latin per-.