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fordo

American  
[fawr-doo] / fɔrˈdu /

verb (used with object)

Archaic.
fordid, fordone, fordoing
  1. to do away with; kill; destroy.

  2. to ruin; undo.


fordo British  
/ fɔːˈduː /

verb

  1. to destroy

  2. to exhaust

"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

Etymology

Origin of fordo

before 900; Middle English fordon, Old English fordōn ( see fore-, do 1); cognate with Dutch verdoen, Old High German fartuon

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Juno, Thus hath your ire our lineage all fordo* *undone, ruined Save only me, and wretched Palamon, That Theseus martyreth in prison.

From The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by Purves, D. Laing

Forsooth this is a shameful custom of a lady, and if I had not a great matter in my hand I should fordo your evil customs.

From Le Mort d'Arthur: Volume 2 by Malory, Thomas, Sir

So benevolent is God to mankind, that he has set his angels over us as guardians, that they may not allow the fierce devils to fordo us.

From The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of ?lfric, in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version. Volume I. by Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham

This eventful day, which, to quote Iago, was either to "make or fordo quite" the widow, found her as calm, cool and deliberate in the execution of her purpose as the Ancient himself.

From A Book of Remarkable Criminals by Irving, Henry Brodribb

Me forthinketh, said King Pellinore, that this shall me betide, but God may fordo well destiny.

From Le Mort d'Arthur: Volume 1 by Malory, Thomas, Sir

Him longing fordid To wot whether the bold man he quick there shall meet In that mead-stead, e'en he the king of the Weders, All sick of his might, whereas he erst Itft him.

From The Tale of Beowulf Sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats by Anonymous

Also Merlin let make there a bed, that there should never man lie therein but he went out of his wit, yet Launcelot de Lake fordid that bed through his noblesse.

From Le Mort d'Arthur: Volume 1 by Malory, Thomas, Sir

And yet they are talking about our fathers being such good men, while they are cursing us fordoing precisely what they did, only to a less extent than they did.

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 8 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Political by Ingersoll, Robert Green

For there, with bodily anguish keen, With Indian heats at last fordone, With public toil and private teen— Thou sank'st, alone.

From Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold by Arnold, Matthew

He moaned again, but so hopelessly, as being so weary and fordone, that Abbot Milo began to blubber out loud.

From The Life and Death of Richard Yea-and-Nay by Hewlett, Maurice Henry

When Messire Gawain heareth these tidings, they touch his heart right sore, so that he goeth the straightest he may toward the assembly, and the squire with him that was sore fordone.

From The High History of the Holy Graal by Evans, Sebastian

Now the hungry lion roars, And the wolf behowls the moon; Whilst the heavy ploughman snores, All with weary task fordone.

From English Songs and Ballads by Crosland, T. W. H. (Thomas William Hodgson)

Thro' thousand ages hath thy childhood run: On timeless ruin hath thy glory been: From the forgotten night of loves fordone Thou risest in the dawn of hopes unseen.

From The Poetical Works of Robert Bridges by Bridges, Robert

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