Forbear: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ™
Add to dictionary

forbear

 

[ fษ”rหˆbษ›r ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

patiently refraining from

To refrain from; to abstain from; to be patient or tolerant in the face of provocation.

Synonyms

abstain, endure, refrain, tolerate

Examples of usage

  • He could scarcely forbear to smile.
  • She could not forbear expressing her anger.
  • They had to forbear from making any comments.
  • We must forbear judgment until we have all the facts.
  • I could not forbear from asking him a question.
Context #2 | Noun

an ancestor

An ancestor; a forefather.

Synonyms

ancestor, forefather, predecessor

Examples of usage

  • He is the forbear of the family.
  • She comes from a long line of forbears.

Translations

Translations of the word "forbear" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น abster-se

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเค‚เคฏเคฎ เคฐเค–เคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช sich enthalten

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menahan diri

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัƒั‚ั€ะธะผัƒะฒะฐั‚ะธัั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ powstrzymywaฤ‡ siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆŽงใˆใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท s'abstenir

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ abstenerse

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท sakฤฑnmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ฐธ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ุงู…ุชู†ุงุน

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zdrลพet se

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ zdrลพaลฅ sa

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ…‹ๅˆถ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ vzdrลพati se

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ halda aftur af sรฉr

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ำฉะทั–ะฝ าฑัั‚ะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ—แƒแƒ•แƒ˜ แƒจแƒ”แƒ˜แƒ™แƒแƒ•แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ รถzรผnรผ saxlamaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ abstenerse

Etymology

The word 'forbear' originated from Middle English 'forberen', which meant to endure, abstain from, or refrain from. It is derived from the combination of 'for-' meaning completely or intensely, and 'beren' meaning to bear or carry. Over time, the meaning of 'forbear' evolved to include the sense of patience or tolerance in the face of provocation. The noun form of 'forbear' to mean an ancestor or forefather developed later, referring to those who came before us in a family line.

See also: bear, bearable, beard, bearer, bearers, bearing, bearish, forbearance, forbearing, forebear, forebears, overbearing, unbearable, unbearably.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,245, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.