verb , noun
■ verb
/ fɔːˈbeə(r); NAmE fɔːrˈber/ ( for·bore / fɔːˈbɔː(r); NAmE fɔːrˈb-/, for·borne / fɔːˈbɔːn; NAmE fɔːrˈbɔːrn/) forbear (from sth / from doing sth) ( formal ) to stop yourself from saying or doing sth that you could or would like to say or do :
[ v ]
He wanted to answer back, but he forbore from doing so.
[ v to inf ]
She forbore to ask any further questions.
■ noun
= forebear
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WORD ORIGIN
verb Old English forberan (from for- and bear (verb)). The original senses were endure, bear with , hence endure the absence of, do without , also control oneself , hence refrain from ( Middle English ).