Obs. [f. FOR prep. + BYSEN.] a. An example, pattern, type. b. An illustration, parable. c. A proverb. d. A token.

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  a.  c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 81. Her of me mei ane forbisne of twa brondes.

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c. 1220.  Bestiary, 307.

        Ðe hert haueð kindes two,
and forbisnes oc al so.

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c. 1380.  Cast. Love, 980. A forbysne of boxumnes.

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1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XVIII. 277. He is a forbusne to alle busshopes.

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  b.  c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 79. Godalmihti seið an forbisne to his folk in þe halie godspel and seið [etc.].

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c. 1308.  Song Times, in Pol. Songs. (Camden), 197. Of thos a vorbisen ic herd telle.

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1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. IX. 24.

        ‘Bi a forebisene’ seide the frere · ‘I schal the feire schewe.’

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  c.  a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 99.

        Thar-bi men segget a vorbisne,
‘Dahet habbe that like best
That fuleth his owe nest.’

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1340.  Ayenb., 47. Vor ase zayþ þe uorbisne ‘leuedi of uaire diȝtinge is arblast to þe tour.’

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  d.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4593 (Gött.).

        For þoru þis for-bisin here,
Witt þu þar sal be seuen ȝere
Of plente be in þi kingrike.

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1485.  Caxton, Trevisa’s Higden, II. i. (1527), 58. Soo some partes of a mannes bodye be forbyson & bodyng of wondres.

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