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forfend

[ fawr-fend ]
/ fɔrˈfɛnd /
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verb (used with object)

to defend, secure, or protect.
to fend off, avert, or prevent.
Archaic. forbid.

RELATED WORDS

forestall, preclude, counteract, hinder, prevent, avert, prohibit, cease, deter, impede, exclude, obviate, thwart, forbid, restrict, hamper, halt, avoid, restrain, stop

Nearby words

  1. foreyard,
  2. forfaiting,
  3. forfar,
  4. forfeit,
  5. forfeiture,
  6. forfex,
  7. forficate,
  8. forfochen,
  9. forgat,
  10. forgather
Also forefend.

Origin of forfend

First recorded in 1350–1400, forfend is from the Middle English word forfenden. See for-, fend
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for forfend

British Dictionary definitions for forfend

forfend

forefend

/ (fɔːˈfɛnd) /

verb (tr)

US to protect or secure
obsolete to prohibit or prevent
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 forfend

forfend

v.

also forefend, late 14c., "to protect, prohibit; to avert, prevent," a hybrid from for- + fend, from Latin defendere "to ward off."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper