Old English · prefix

for-

away; completely; wrongly

Forms

for-

Origin

Earlier Germanic prefixes, including reconstructed *fra-, ‘away; forth’; their histories overlap in Old English.

Note

Its force varies among old compounds and is often no longer predictable from the parts.

Words sharing this root

forbearTo hold back from doing something.forbidTo order that something must not be done or allowed.foregoTo voluntarily give up or do without something.forgetTo cease holding something in one's awareness or memory.forgiveTo release someone from blame or an obligation owed.forgivingTolerant of mistakes without imposing severe consequences.forgoTo do without or choose not to have something.forlornSad and lonely, as if abandoned or without hope.forsakeTo leave or give up someone or something entirely.forsoothIndeed or truly, used in old-fashioned or humorous speech.forswearTo solemnly promise to give up or reject something.