forbear

[fawr-bair]

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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

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, adjective

Synonyms for forbear

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1. forgo, sacrifice, renounce.

forbear

[fawr-bair]

noun

forebear.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for forbear

decline, inhibit, abstain, stop, avoid, omit, escape, forgo, refrain, withhold, desist, pause, cease, evade, eschew, shun, restrain, curb, keep, bridle

Examples from the Web for forbear

Historical Examples of forbear

For who can forbear to laugh at the bare idea of an Irish bull?
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
If you love sack, forbear; for this course will never bring you a drop.
Maid Marian
Thomas Love Peacock
She could not forbear asking what it was that touched him so much.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
Dearest Madam, forbear for the present: I am but in my noviciate.
Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
Let men agree to differ, and, when they do differ, bear and forbear.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles

British Dictionary definitions for forbear

forbear

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, adverb

Word Origin for forbear

Old English forberan; related to Gothic frabairan to endure

forbear

noun

a variant spelling of forebear

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

Word Origin and History for forbear

"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.

"ancestor," late 15c., from fore "before" + be-er "one who exists;" agent noun from be.