I. fȯr-ˈber, fər- verb
( for·bore -ˈbȯr ; for·borne -ˈbȯrn ; -bear·ing )
Etymology: Middle English forberen, from Old English forberan to endure, do without, from for- + beran to bear
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to do without
2. : to hold oneself back from especially with an effort
forbore mentioning the incident
3. obsolete : to leave alone : shun
forbear his presence — Shakespeare
intransitive verb
1. : hold back , abstain
have forborne from taking part in any controversy — Abraham Lincoln
2. : to control oneself when provoked : be patient
• for·bear·er noun
II.
variant of forebear