v. for·bore (-bôr), for·borne (-bôrn), for·bear·ing, for·bears v.intr. 1. To keep oneself from doing something; hold back; refrain: forbear from making a comment. 2. To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation. v.tr. 1. To refrain from; resist: forbore criticizing them. 2. To restrain oneself so as not (to do something): "He saw that she was preoccupied, and forbore to question her" (Thomas Hardy). [Middle English forberen, from Old English forberan, to endure; see bher-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] for·bearer n. |
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