definitions

for-

a prefix meaning “away,” “off,” “to the uttermost,” “extremely,” “wrongly,” or imparting a negative or privative force, occurring in verbs and nouns formed from verbs of Old or Middle English origin, many of which are now obsolete or archaic: forbid; forbear; forswear; forbearance.

RELATED CONTENT

8 Words For CelebrationRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
8 Words For CelebrationRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

Nearby words

for the time being, for two cents, for want of a nail the kingdom was lost, for what it's worth, for whom the bell tolls, for-, for-instance, for-profit, for., fora, forage

Origin of for-

Middle English, Old English; compare German ver-, Greek peri-, Latin per-
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for for-

for-

prefix

indicating rejection or prohibitionforbear; forbid
indicating falsity or wrongnessforswear
used to give intensive forceforgive; forlorn

Word Origin for for-

Old English for-; related to German ver-, Latin per-, Greek peri-
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012