FORBEAR (forbore, forborne)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: forbore    , forborne   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does forbear mean? 

• FORBEAR (noun)
  The noun FORBEAR has 1 sense:

1. a person from whom you are descended

  Familiarity information: FORBEAR used as a noun is very rare.

• FORBEAR (verb)
  The verb FORBEAR has 2 senses:

1. refrain from doing

2. resist doing something

  Familiarity information: FORBEAR used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FORBEAR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person from whom you are descended

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

forbear; forebear

Hypernyms ("forbear" is a kind of...):

ancestor; antecedent; ascendant; ascendent; root (someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "forbear"):

grandparent (a parent of your father or mother)

great grandparent (a parent of your grandparent)

• FORBEAR (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they forbear    ... he / she / it forbears   
Past simple: forbore   
Past participle: forborne   
-ing form: forbearing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Refrain from doing

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

forbear; hold back

Context example:

she forbore a snicker

Hypernyms (to "forbear" is one way to...):

forbear; refrain (resist doing something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Resist doing something

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

forbear; refrain

Context example:

she could not forbear weeping

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "forbear"):

leave; leave alone; leave behind; let alone (leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking)

let it go (not act)

abstain (refrain from voting)

save; spare (refrain from harming)

forbear; hold back (refrain from doing)

help; help oneself (abstain from doing; always used with a negative)

stand by (not act or do anything)

sit out (not participate in (an activity, such as a dance or a sports event))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

forbearance (a delay in enforcing rights or claims or privileges; refraining from acting)

 Context examples 

We forbore to light a fire or to make any unnecessary sound.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I told him to forbear question or remark; I desired him to leave me: I must and would be alone.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Martin followed the processes of her thoughts, but forbore to go farther.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I never heard such sweet forbearing kindness expressed in a voice, as she expressed in making this reply.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She could not but know it as she swiftly drew away her hands, and yet, could not forbear one quick searching look before she turned away her eyes.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Upon this point, I cannot forbear doing justice to the queen my mistress, and Glumdalclitch my nurse, whose persons were as sweet as those of any lady in England.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

A scene has just passed of such uncommon interest that, although it is highly probable that these papers may never reach you, yet I cannot forbear recording it.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

His looks were not quite friendly, and I was so revolted at these constant changes that I could not forbear whispering, “So you've changed sides again.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Elinor's heart thanked her for such kindness towards Edward, though she could not forbear smiling at the form of it.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Glowing and lovely in sensibility and happiness, and more generally admired than she thought about or cared for, she had cheerful or forbearing feelings for every creature around her.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)