[for.bear] vb -bore ; -borne ; -bear.ing [ME forberen, fr. OE forberan to endure, do without, fr. for- + beran to bear] vt (bef. 12c) 1 obs: to do without
2: to hold oneself back from esp. with an effort 3 obs: to leave alone: shun "~ his presence --Shak." ~ vi 1: hold back, abstain "can write with ease what I ~ to read --Flannery O'Connor"
2: to control oneself when provoked: be patient -- for.bear.er n
[2]forbear var of forebear