# forbear

> English word · Verb · IPA /fɔːˈbɛə/ · frequency rank #93,710

## Definitions
1. To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from.
2. To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay.
3. To refuse; to decline; to withsay; to unheed.
4. To control oneself when provoked.

## Etymology
From Middle English forberen, from Old English forberan (“to forbear, abstain from, refrain; suffer, endure, tolerate, humor; restrain; do without”), from Proto-Germanic *fraberaną (“to hold back, endure”); equivalent to for- + bear. Cognate with Old Frisian forbera (“to forfeit”), Middle High German verbërn (“to have not; abstain; refrain from; avoid”) (Cimbrian forbèeran), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌰𐌽 (frabairan, “to endure”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/forbear