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forbear1

[fawr-bair]
verb (used with object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.
  1. to refrain or abstain from; desist from.
  2. to keep back; withhold.
  3. Obsolete. to endure.
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verb (used without object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.
  1. to refrain; hold back.
  2. to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.
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Origin of forbear1

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

1. forgo, sacrifice, renounce.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for forbearers

Historical Examples

  • We must all be profoundly grateful for the magnificent achievements of our forbearers in this century.

    Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006

    Various

British Dictionary definitions for forbearers

forbear1

verb -bears, -bearing, -bore or -borne
  1. (when intr, often foll by from or an infinitive) to cease or refrain (from doing something)
  2. archaic to tolerate or endure (misbehaviour, mistakes, etc)
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Derived Formsforbearer, nounforbearingly, adverb

Word Origin

Old English forberan; related to Gothic frabairan to endure

forbear2

noun
  1. a variant spelling of forebear
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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 forbearers

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.

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forbear

n.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper