forfend
English
Etymology
From Middle English forfenden (“to ward off, protect, prohibit”), equivalent to for- + fend.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈfɔː(ɹ)ˌfɛnd/, /ˌfə(ɹ)ˈfɛnd/
- Rhymes: -ɛnd
Verb
forfend (third-person singular simple present forfends, present participle forfending, simple past and past participle forfended)
- (dated) To prohibit; to forbid; to avert.
- 1594, Thomas Lodge, The Wounds of Civil War, act 4, scene 1, page 54:
- Clown: … You would know where Lord Anthonie is? I perceiue you. Shall I ſay he is in yond farme houſe? I deceiue you. Shall I tell you this wine is for him? the gods forfend, and ſo I end. Go fellow fighters theres a bob for ye.
- 2008, Lew, short circuit operators, zbadnYZNaK6VM1zanZ2dnUVZ_r7inZ2d@comcast.com
- What? Multi-posting? Usenet Gods forfend!
- 1594, Thomas Lodge, The Wounds of Civil War, act 4, scene 1, page 54:
Usage notes
- This word is dated and becoming obsolete. Mostly used now in set expressions such as heaven forfend.
Translations
Anagrams
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