Forbade Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
🚫
forbade
[fɔːˈbeɪd ]
Definition
past tense
Forbade is the past tense of 'forbid', meaning to prohibit or to make something illegal. It indicates a definitive decision to prevent someone from doing something, often through authority or law.
Synonyms
banned, interdicted, prohibited, restricted.
Examples of usage
- She forbade him from entering the room.
- The teacher forbade the students from using their phones during the exam.
- He was forbade to speak about the incident.
- They forbade the use of any electronic devices during the meeting.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Law
- In legal contexts, 'forbade' can be used in court rulings where certain actions or behaviors are prohibited.
- Laws can forbade specific behaviors, such as trespassing or theft, emphasizing societal boundaries.
Literature
- Forbade is often found in classical literature, where characters might be compelled to obey powerful figures or moral codes.
- William Shakespeare frequently used variations of 'forbade' in his plays to dramatize tension between characters and societal rules.
Psychology
- The act of forbidding can create a psychological response known as reactance, where individuals want to do the forbidden act even more.
- Developmentally, children often test boundaries; when they are forbade to do something, it can lead to curiosity or rebellious behavior.
Cultural Practices
- Certain cultural or religious practices may forbade specific behaviors, like dietary restrictions or dress codes.
- In some cultures, to forbid can also be a protective measure, aiming to preserve traditions or prevent harm.
Origin of 'forbade'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'forbade' is the simple past form of 'forbid', which comes from Old English 'forbeodan', meaning to prohibit or refuse.
- In Old French, the word 'forbid' took the form 'forbider', which influenced the modern English usage.
The word 'forbade' originates from the Old English word 'forbeodan', which combines 'for-' meaning 'completely' or 'before' and 'beodan', meaning 'to bid' or 'to command'. This term illustrates a strong sense of commanding someone not to perform an action. Over time, the word has evolved through Middle English as 'forboden' before settling into its modern form 'forbade'. The evolution reflects the cultural shift towards more formal and legalistic language in the English language, where authority often holds the power to restrict actions verbally.