Pa. t. forbad, forbade; pa. pple. forbidden. Forms: Infin. 1–2 forbéodan (north. forbéada), 2–4 forbeoden, 3–5 forbede(n, -yn, (4 -bedd, -beed, 5 -bidde, -bide, -byde), 4–6 Sc. forbeid, (7 forbidd), 4– forbid. Pa. t. 1 forbéad, 2–3 forbead, (3 -bæd, -bet(t), 3–5 forbed(e, forbode, (4 -baad, -badde, -bed, -beed), 5 -bat (6, 7 -bod(de), 6–8 forbid, 4– forbad, forbade. Pa. pple. 1 forboden, 3–6 forbode(n, (5 -bade, -bed(e), 5–8 forbod(de(n, 6–9 forbid, 6– forbidden. Also weak pa. t. 4 forbedde, -bedid, pa. pple. 5 forbedd. [OE. forbéodan, pa. t. forbéad, pl. -budon, pa. pple. forboden, f. FOR- pref.1 + béodan to BID; = OFris. forbiada, Du. verbieden, OHG. far-, forpiotan (MHG. and Ger. verbieten), Goth. faurbiudan. Cf. ON. fyrirbióða.]
1. trans. To command (a person or persons) not to do, have, use, or indulge in (something), or not to enter (a place); to prohibit. In many diverse constructions.
a. with double object, of the person (orig. dative), and of the thing prohibited. Also in pass. with either the person or the thing as subject; in the latter case, the indirect obj., if a sb., is preceded by to.
O. E. Chron., an. 1048. And cwæð þet se papa hit him forboden hæfde.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 223. Hwi for-bead ȝeu god þes trowes westm.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2983.
| And quane ðe king wurð war ðis dead, | |
| Anon ðis folc fore he for-bead. |
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13028 (Cott.).
| Bifor his barounes euerilkane, | |
| He forbedd him þat wommane. |
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 9157.
| When he wyste þat he was ded | |
| Þat þeym þe lond furst furbed. |
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 519.
| Forbeed us thing, and that desire we; | |
| Pres on us fast, and thanne wol we fle. |
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 768.
| God wold her wonynge · were in wildernesse, | |
| And fals freres forboden · þe fayre ladis chaumbres! |
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, 21. That is forboden vs by holy chirche in all wyse vnder greate payne.
1539. Rastell, Pastyme, Hist. Rom. (1811), 29. It was ordeynyd that preestis Grekes myght haue wyfis, which to preestis Latens was forboden.
1597. Shaks., Lover’s Compl., 162.
| Nor giues it satisfaction to our blood, | |
| That wee must curbe it vppon others proofe, | |
| To be forbod the sweets that seemes so good, | |
| For feare of harmes that preach in our behoofe. |
1609. Douland, Ornith. Microl., 20. There be some other Interuals, very rare, and forbidden to yong beginners.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, VI. 758.
| She thus reply’d: The chaste and holy Race, | |
| Are all forbidden this polluted Place. |
1710. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. Burnet, 20 July. My sex is usually forbid studies of this nature, and folly reckoned so much our proper sphere, that we are sooner pardoned any excesses of that, than the least pretensions to reading or good sense.
1793. Cowper, On Spaniel Beau, ii.
| But you have killed a tiny bird | |
| Which flew not till to-day, | |
| Against my orders, whom you heard | |
| Forbidding you the prey. |
1838. Lytton, Leila, I. ii. Yet am I called weak and irresolute, when strength and courage are forbid me.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 351. The six Bishops set off for Whitehall. The Archbishop, who had long been forbidden the court, did not accompany them.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), II. I. iv. 187. Their [the Turks’] religion forbids them every sort of painting, sculpture, or engraving; thus the fine arts cannot exist among them.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. vi. Oh, Miss, will you forbid him the house where I know he is safe?
b. with personal object (in OE. either dat. or accus.) and an infinitive (formerly with for to; rarely without to) as second object.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xix. 14. Nelle ȝe hiȝ for-beodan cuman to me.
c. 1200. Ormin, 6499. &
| Till Herode king onnȝænn | |
| He þeȝȝm forrbæd to turrnenn. |
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 54. Þe eppel þæt ich loke on is forbode me to etene, & nout forto biholden.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xvi. 6. Forsoth thei passinge Frigye, and the cuntree of Galathie, weren forbodyn of the Hooly Gost for to speke the word of God in Asya.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, I. xxv. The negligent religiose & þe leuke haþ tribulacion, & on euery syde suffriþ angguisshe; for he lackiþ inwarde comfort, & he is forboden to seke eny outwarde.
1562. Bulleyn, Dial. Soarnes & Chir., 42 b. We be also forboden to use repercussiues.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 427.
| You may as well | |
| Forbid the Sea for to obey the Moone. |
a. 1618. J. Davies, Wittes Pilgrimage (Grosart), 19/1.
| But ah, I am forbod | |
| By high-borne Wiues, low matchd, to tell it you. |
1817. Ld. Ellenborough, in Maule & Selwyn, Rep., VI. 316. He distinctly forbids the defendants to accept any more of their drafts.
† c. with personal obj. and negative clause. Obs.
O. E. Chron., an. 675. Swa ic for beode þe & ealle þe biscopas þe æfter ðe cumon of Criste & ealle his halȝan þæt ȝe nan onsting ne hauen of þæt mynstre.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 256. Ich forbeode ou þet non of ou ne ileue þes deofles sondesmon.
c. 1275. The Passion of Our Lord, 581, in O. E. Misc., 53.
| Ihesuc spek to marie and hire þo for-bed, | |
| Þat heo attryne ne scolde his honde ne his fet. |
1387. Trevisa, Higdon (Rolls), I. 85. By þese trees þe grete kyng Alexander was forbode, þat he schulde neuere come in Babylon.
1599. Shaks., Pass. Pilgr., 121.
| Her stand she takes vpon a steepe vp hill. | |
| Anon Adonis comes with horne and hounds, | |
| She silly Queene, with more then loues good will, | |
| Forbad the boy he should not passe those grounds. |
d. with omission of personal object, and with the thing prohibited expressed (a) by sb. or pron. († const. from); (b) by an infinitive; (c) by an obj.-sentence (in early use with a negative, which the later idiom omits); (d) by object and infinitive.
(a) c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 115. He scal biwerian widewan and steopbern and stale aleggen and heordom for-beodan.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 13. Þe holie boc hit forbet.
1340. Ayenb., 8. Ine þis heste ys uorbode zenne of hate and of wreþe and of grat ire.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., i., in Ashm. (1652), 15.
| Therefore noe Man shulde be too swifte, | |
| To cast away our Lords blessed guift: | |
| Consideringe how that Almighty God | |
| From Great Doctours hath this Science forbod. |
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1539), 78 b. Wyne is not to be forboden, for vnto wyne, vneth any thynge may be compared, that so well dygesteth crude humours.
1671. Lady M. Bertie, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 23. They say the King hath put out a Proclamation to forbid maskerades and to command those who were concerned in killing the mane to com to their tr[y]all.
1730. A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 67. The first Laws enacted against all kind of bloody Games, began in Constantine’s Time, and in the Year 325, Gladiators were expressly forbid.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 34, Laws, Introduction. I still incline to think that the Lacedaemonian lawgiver was right in forbidding pleasure, if I may judge from the result.
(b) 13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1147. To defowle hit euer vpon folde fast he forbedes.
1526–34. Tindale, Luke xxiii. 2. We have founde this folowe pervertynge the people and forbiddynge to paye tribute to Cesar: And sayeth that he is Christ a kynge.
1723. State of Russia, II. 282. For which reason he had forbidden to carry any body of his Majesty’s Retinue over the River Duna.
(c) c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xxiii. 2. For-beodende þæt man þam Casere gafol ne sealde.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 496. The king … vorbed that me ne ssolde non of is lond sowe.
1340. Ayenb., 8. Þis heste uorbyet þet non ne ssel slaȝe oþren.
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, 71. Yt is forboden vnder payne of cursynge, that no man shulde haue ne drawe eny texte of holy scrypture in to englysshe wythout lycense of the bysshop dyocesan.
1619. N. Brent, trans. Sarpi’s The Historie of the Councel of Trent, IV. (1629), 355. It was forbid in the Thirteenth head, That the Patrone, though he had a priviledge to do it, should not make the presentation to any but the Bishop.
1658. W. Burton, Comment. Itin. Antoninus, 121. He forbad that not any body should either use a silver drinking cup, or bathing among them.
(d) 1382. Wyclif, Luke xxiii. 2. We han founden this man turnynge vpsodoun our folk, and forbedinge tributis to be ȝouun to Cesar, and seyinge him silf to be Crist king.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxvi. 137. A Law is not abrogated, but by another Law, that forbiddeth it to be put in execution.
1763. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., v. 75. This Song, which to foreign Ears is uncouth and barbarous, hath such an Effect on the Natives of SWITZERLAND, among whom it is generally taught and impressed on the infant Mind, that it is forbid to be sung among their Regiments hired in the Service of other Nations, lest it should tempt them to desert, and return to their own Country.
1865. Knight, Sch. Hist. Eng., IV. 115. The governor of the Castle forbad the Church Service to be performed, through his bigoted resolve that, the Common Prayer having been put down, he would not suffer it to be read in the garrison where he commanded.
e. with the personal object only. Const. from, † of (a thing). Now rare.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 27. He þe wule forbeode of his eȝane on siht.
13[?]. Coer de L., 3795.
| In Godys name I thee forbede, | |
| For gold, sylvyr, ne for no mede, | |
| That they may proffer and geve, | |
| Ryche ne pore lat non leve. |
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), viii. 87. Þrefore wolde he [David] make the temple in þat place, but oure lord forbade him.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 8 b. I forbede all syngular persones from the studyenge of this treatyse.
1533. J. Heywood, Pardoner & F., B ij b. Of all temporall seruice are we forbode.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. vi. 18.
| Ne wight with him on that aduenture went, | |
| But that wylde man, whom though he oft forbad, | |
| Yet for no bidding, nor for being shent, | |
| Would he restrayned be from his attendement. |
1840. Thirlwall, Greece, VII. 117. The soldiers wished to take part in it also; and, though forbidden, forced their way into the palace, and filled the avenues of the council-hall, so that many witnessed the proceedings.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 122. Before the time of Mohammad there were no public baths in Arabia; and he was so prejudiced against them, for the reasons already alluded to, that he forbade both men and women from entering them.
1851. Hussey, The Rise of the Papal Power ii. 61. He [Pope Zosimus] forbad Hilary Bishop of Narbonne (2da) from all Metropolitan rights.
f. absol. or with ellipsis of both objects.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. iii. 18.
| Wooduile. Haue patience Noble Duke, I may not open, | |
| The Cardinall of Winchester forbids. |
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 62.
| Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold | |
| Longer thy offerd good, why else set here? |
2. In various modified uses.
a. fig. To exclude, keep back, hinder, restrain. Now chiefly of circumstances, conditions, etc.: To constitute a prohibition or imperative reason against; to render impossible or undesirable.
c. 1000. Ags Ps. cxix. 101 (Spelm.). Fram eallum weȝe yfeln ic forbead fet mine.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxxiii. 13. Ffor bede þi tonge fra ill: and þi lippes þat þai speke not treson.
1388. Wyclif, Jer. v. 25. Ȝoure wickidnessis diden awei these thingis, and ȝoure synnes forbediden good fro ȝou.
1573. Baret, Alv., F 847. To forbidde, to lette, to stoppe, inhibeo.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 596. The way to hasten the Breeding of Salt-Petre, is to forbid the Sunne, and the Growth of Vegetables.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 739.
| Nor, laid on Altars, did pure Flames arise; | |
| But Clouds of smouldring Smoke, forbad the Sacrifice. |
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, XII. 147.
| Whose spreading Arms with leafy Honours crown’d, | |
| Forbid the Tempest, and protect the Ground. |
1750. Gray, Elegy Written in a Country Church-yard, xvii.
| Th’ Applause of list’ning Senates to command, | |
| The Threats of Pain and Ruin to despise, | |
| To scatter Plenty o’er a smiling Land, | |
| And read their Hist’ry in a Nation’s Eyes Their Lot forbad. |
1799. Sheridan, Pizarro, IV. i. The state I left her in forbids all hope, but from thy quick return.
1863. Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia, 19. The huge cypress-trees and exquisite evergreen undergrowth spring up from a stagnant sweltering pool, that effectually forbids the foot of the explorer.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 138. Regretting only that, from so rich a source, his limits forbade him to draw copiously.
1870. Huxley, Crit. & Addr. (1890), 51. It [the Bible] forbids the veriest hind who never left his village to be ignorant of the existence of other countries and other civilizations, and of a great past, stretching back to the furthest limits of the oldest nations in the world.
b. In deprecatory phr. God, Heaven, the Lord forbid, usually with a clause or sentence as direct object, rarely with an indirect object; also absol. as an exclamation.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 8. Þet God forbeode ou.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4372 (Cott.). Good forbedd i suld him suike.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XII. 254.
| And, certis, I warne ȝow of a thing, | |
| To happyn thamme (as god forbeid!) |
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 910, Thisbe.
| But God forbede but a woman can | |
| Ben as trewe and lovynge as a man. |
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5590. Nay, driȝtin for-bede!
c. 1470. Henry the Minstrel, Wallace, V. 624. Gret God forbede it suld be so with yis.
1513. More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 760. Our Lorde forbid that ye loue together the worsse for the selfe same cause that ye ought to loue together the better.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Massacre Paris, I. iii. Mar. The Heavens forbid your highness such mishap!
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. ii. 19.
| Fortune forbid my out-side haue not charm’d her. | |
| Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., II. ii. 208. | |
| This L[ord] goe to him? Jupiter forbid, | |
| And say in thunder, Achilles goe to him. |
1611. Bible, 1 Chron. xi. 19. My God forbid it mee that I should doe this thing. Ibid., Gal. ii. 7. God forbid.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, IV. 103.
| Gods! shall the ravisher display your hair, | |
| While the fops envy, and the ladies stare! | |
| Honour forbid! | |
| Ibid. (1738), Epil. Sat., I. 105. | |
| P. Good Heav’n forbid that I should blast their glory, | |
| Who know how like Whig ministers to Tory. |
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 34, Charmides. Do you mean a knowledge of shoemaking? God forbid.
† c. with weakened sense: To argue or give one’s opinion against. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 30244.
| Summe hit gonnen ræden | |
| summe to for-beoden. |
† d. To deny, refuse. Obs.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke vi. 29. Ne for-beod him no þine tunecan.
c. 1205. Lay., 30225.
| Whaðer he hit wolde iunne | |
| oþer him for-beode. |
1483. Cath Angl., 137/2. To Forbed, abdicare, abnuere.
† e. To defy, challenge.
1588. Bp. Andrewes, Serm. 1 Tim. vi. 17–19. I forbid them … to shew mee in Rhemes or in Rome … such a shew as we have seene here these last two daies.
† f. To lay under a ban, curse, interdict.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. iii. 21. He shall liue a man forbid.
1819. B. Cornwall, Dram. Scenes, Werner, ii.
| Oh! I shall pass | |
| (I feel it) my time in solitude; set apart | |
| From all, a man forbidden. |
† 3. To countermand. Obs. rare.
1665. Sir W. Coventry, in Pepys’ Diary, VI. 106. Some [ships] were ordered and others forbid.
† 4. To put off for a time, to postpone. Obs.
[Perh. another word (? for-bide), or an erroneous use: Caxton has forborn, which expresses the sense.]
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 339. Iosue … renewede þe circumsicioun þat was forbode fourty ȝere in wyldernesse. Ibid., III. 51. Olympiades … was i-holde ones in fyue ȝere, lesth he schulde be forȝete and it were lengere forbode.
