Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
forbear 1[fawr-bair] SynonymsWord Origin verb (used with object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.
- to refrain or abstain from; desist from.
- to keep back; withhold.
- Obsolete. to endure.
verb (used without object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.
- to refrain; hold back.
- to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.
Origin of forbear 1 before 900; Middle English forberen, Old English forberan. See for-, bear1 Related formsfor·bear·er, nounfor·bear·ing·ly, adverbnon·for·bear·ing, adjectivenon·for·bear·ing·ly, adverbun·for·bear·ing, adjectiveSynonyms for forbear 1. forgo, sacrifice, renounce. British Dictionary definitions for forbearer forbear 1 verb -bears, -bearing, -bore or -borne
- (when intr, often foll by from or an infinitive) to cease or refrain (from doing something)
- archaic to tolerate or endure (misbehaviour, mistakes, etc)
Derived Formsforbearer, nounforbearingly, adverbWord Origin for forbear Old English forberan; related to Gothic frabairan to endure forbear 2 noun
- a variant spelling of forebear
Word Origin and History for forbearer forbear v.
“to abstain,” Old English forberan “bear up against, control one’s feelings, endure,” from for- + beran “to bear” (see bear (v.)). Related: Forbearer; forbearing; forbore.
forbear n.
“ancestor,” late 15c., from fore “before” + be-er “one who exists;” agent noun from be.