v. Chiefly Sc. Also 6 -gadder, Sc. -gader. [f. FOR- pref.1 + GATHER. Cf. Du. vergaderen, Flem. 16th c. vergaederen to assemble.]
1. intr. To gather together, assemble.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VII. xiv. 30.
| Ane ost of futmen, thik as the haill schour … | |
| Thik forgadderis the large feyldis about. |
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 62.
| Efter the deith of king Fergus schort quhile, | |
| The Scottis all forgadderit in Argyle, | |
| And crownit hes Eugenius to be king, | |
| Gude Fergus sone that wes baith fair and ȝing. |
a. 1774. Fergusson, King’s Birth-day, Poems (1845), 1.
| I’m fain to think the joys the same | |
| In London town as here at hame, | |
| Whare fouk of ilka age and name, | |
| Baith blind and cripple, | |
| Forgather aft, O fy for shame! | |
| To drink and tipple. |
1895. H. P. Robinson, Men Born Equal, xxv. 329. At the dinner-table he suffered Barry to talk uninterruptedly, and afterwards, when three or four other men forgathered with them in the wine-room over the coffee and cigars, Horace was absent-minded and silent.
2. To encounter, meet; esp. to meet with. ‘Now commonly used to denote an accidental meeting’ (Jam.).
1600. R. Logan, in Pitcairn, Crim. Trials (1833), II. 282. Incase ye and M. A. R. forgader, becawse he is somequat consety, for Godis saik be very var vith his raklese toyis of Padoa.
1676. W. Row, Contin. Blair’s Autobiog., ix. (1848), 142. They forgathered with a mighty hurricane, out of the north-west, that broke one of the great master joists made to go cross the middle of the ship; there were no waves there, but mountains of waters, as the poet said.
1737. Ramsay, Scot. Prov., Ded. How usefou’ will it prove to you (wha hae sae few opportunities of common clattering) when ye fergather wi’ your friends at kirk or market, banquet or bridal!
1786. Burns, Twa Dogs.
| ’Twas in that place … | |
| Twa dogs, that were na thrang at hame, | |
| Forgather’d ance upon a time. |
1873. G. C. Davies, Mount. & Mere, xix. 178. In my dream I foregathered with an ancient fisherman, who gave me the most copious and marvellous information upon marine matters, of which I took full notes, congratulating myself upon meeting with him.
b. To associate with. To forgather up: to take up with, become attached to.
1782. Burns, Death Poor Mailie, x.
| O, may thou ne’er forgather up, | |
| Wi’ ony blastit, moorland toop. |
1858. Times, 30 Nov., 6/6. For this … purpose he forgathered with the privates of the regiment, and treated them.
3. ? To come together in marriage.
1768. A. Ross, Helenore, II. 100.
| Fouk ay had best begin wi’ dealing fair, | |
| Altho they sud forgether ne’er so bare. |
Hence Forgathered ppl. a., assembled. Forgathering vbl. sb., the action of gathering together; also, an assembly, gathering or meeting.
1823. Tennant, Cardinal Beaton, II. i. 33 ‘You’re awing me a pint o’ gin for this forgatherin, the neist time your brig sails to Schiedam.’
1839. Bailey, Festus, xix. (1848), 206.
| When as he sat his throne there rose a shout | |
| From the foregathered multitudes which caused | |
| The circumspatial skies shake, cold with dread, | |
| And earth revibrate to her inmost base. |
1868. Dickens, Lett., 21 March. It is the established joke that Boston is ‘my native place,’ and we hold all sorts of hearty foregatherings.
1884. St. James’s Gaz., 8 Aug., 3/1. The fears and doubts of nations are laid to rest by the foregathering of the imperial cousins.
