forbear Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person from whom you are descended
    forebear.
  2. verb refrain from doing
    hold back.
    • she forbore a snicker
  3. verb resist doing something
    refrain.
    • He refrained from hitting him back
    • she could not forbear weeping

WordNet

For*bear" noun
Etymology
See Fore, and Bear to produce.
Definitions
  1. An ancestor; a forefather; -- usually in the plural. Scot. "Your forbears of old." Sir W. Scott.
For*bear" intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. forberen, AS. forberan; pref. for- + beran to bear. See Bear to support.
Wordforms
imperfect Forbore (Forbare [obsolete ]); past participle Forborne ; present participle & verbal noun Forbearing
Definitions
  1. To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay.
    Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? 1 Kinds xxii. 6.
  2. To refuse; to decline; to give no heed.
    Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. Ezek. ii. 7.
  3. To control one's self when provoked.
    The kindest and the happiest pair Will find occasion to forbear. Cowper.
    Both bear and forbear. Old Proverb.
For*bear" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; to give up; as, to forbear the use of a word of doubdtful propriety.
    But let me that plunder forbear. Shenstone.
    The King In open battle or the tilting field Forbore his own advantage. Tennyson.
  2. To treat with consideration or indulgence.
    Forbearing one another in love. Eph. iv. 2.
  3. To cease from bearing. Obs.
    Whenas my womb her burden would forbear. Spenser.

Webster 1913