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forfend

for·fend
F f

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [fawr-fend]
    • /fɔrˈfɛnd/
    • /fˈɔːfend/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [fawr-fend]
    • /fɔrˈfɛnd/

Definitions of forfend word

  • verb with object forfend to defend, secure, or protect. 1
  • verb with object forfend to fend off, avert, or prevent. 1
  • verb with object forfend Archaic. forbid. 1
  • noun forfend Avert, keep away, or prevent (something evil or unpleasant). 1
  • verb forfend to protect or secure 0
  • verb forfend to prohibit or prevent 0

Information block about the term

Origin of forfend

First appearance:

before 1350
One of the 20% oldest English words
First recorded in 1350-1400, forfend is from the Middle English word forfenden. See for-, fend

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Forfend

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

forfend popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 62% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 57% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

forfend usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for forfend

verb forfend

  • hinder — to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; hamper; impede: The storm hindered our progress.
  • prevent — to keep from occurring; avert; hinder: He intervened to prevent bloodshed.
  • discourage — to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit.
  • avert — If you avert something unpleasant, you prevent it from happening.
  • prohibit — to forbid (an action, activity, etc.) by authority or law: Smoking is prohibited here.

Antonyms for forfend

verb forfend

  • aid — Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.
  • assist — If you assist someone, you help them to do a job or task by doing part of the work for them.
  • facilitate — to make easier or less difficult; help forward (an action, a process, etc.): Careful planning facilitates any kind of work.
  • permit — to allow to do something: Permit me to explain.
  • hearten — to give courage or confidence to; cheer.

Top questions with forfend

  • what does forfend mean?

See also

Matching words

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