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Webster 1913 Edition

Forbear

For-bear′

(fŏr-bâr′)
,
Noun.
[See
Fore
, and
Bear
to produce.]
An ancestor; a forefather; – usually in the plural.
[Scot.]
[Also spelled
forebear
.]
“Your forbears of old.”
Sir W. Scott.

For-bear′

(fŏr-bâr′)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp.
Forbore
(
Forbare
,
[Obs.]
);
p. p.
Forborne
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Forbearing
.]
[OE.
forberen
, AS.
forberan
; pref.
for-
+
beran
to bear. See
Bear
to support.]
1.
To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay.
Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I
forbear
?
1 Kings 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′

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; to give up;
as, to
forbear
the use of a word of doubtful 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 1828 Edition

Forbear

FORBEAR

,
Verb.
I.
pret. forbore; pp. forborne.
1.
To stop; to cease; to hold from proceeding; as, forbear to repeat these reproachful words.
2.
To pause; to delay; as, forbear a while.
3.
To abstain; to omit; to hold one's self from motion or entering on an affair.
Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? 1Kings 22.
4.
To refuse; to decline.
Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
Ezek. 2.
5.
To be patient; to restrain from action or violence. Prov. 25:15.

FORBEAR

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To avoid voluntarily; to decline.
Forbear his presence.
2.
To abstain from; to omit; to avoid doing. Learn from the scriptures what you ought to do and what to forbear.
Have we not power to forbear working? 1Cor. 9.
3.
To spare; to treat with indulgence and patience.
Forbearing one another in love. Eph. 4.
4.
To withhold.
Forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. 2Chron. 35.

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