forfend
Americanverb (used with object)
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to defend, secure, or protect.
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to fend off, avert, or prevent.
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Archaic. forbid.
verb
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to protect or secure
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obsolete to prohibit or prevent
Etymology
Origin of forfend
First recorded in 1350–1400, forfend is from the Middle English word forfenden. See for-, fend
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.
Heaven forfend we should be confronted with the art itself: Film has been dematerialized, reduced to a thousand points of metadata that we can argue about in the safe, self-righteous abstract.
From Washington Post
Nike pays Duke serious money, but not a penny — heaven forfend — to Williamson, to wear its stuff.
From Washington Post
Heaven forfend that ABC should re-examine the writing and production values of a telecast that is notoriously bloated, forced and un-fun to watch.
From Washington Post
And most important of all, can they stay on the diet indefinitely and live happily without a piece of bread, cracker or, heaven forfend, a serving of ice cream?
From New York Times
Heaven forfend that perfect consistency is required of any of us.
From Washington Post
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
