Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “forbear” come from?

Forbear comes from English bear, from English bere, from English bear, from English bere, from English bear, from English bere, from English bear.

forbear (English): To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; To...

Definitions

  1. To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; To...

Ancestry of “forbear”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishforberen—
2Old Englishforberanto abstain, refrain, restrain, forbear; bear away...
3Proto-Germanicfraberanąto hold back or keep away ; restrain or refrain ...
4Proto-Germanicfra-off, away; completely, fully, up
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “forbear”

  • forbearance
  • forbear
  • forborne
  • forebear
  • forbearer
  • forbearant
  • forbeareth
  • forbearest
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →