v. Obs. [OE. forweorðan str. vb., f. FOR- pref.1 + weorðan to become (see WORTH v.); cf. OHG. farwerdan.

1

  In early northern ME. occasionally conjugated weak.]

2

  1.  intr. To perish, come to nought, go wrong.

3

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 52. Mid swurde hiȝ forwurþað.

4

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 109. Þurh his ahȝene ehte forwurð a on echnesse.

5

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 155. Sum [sed] ful among þornes, and forwarð.

6

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 175.

        If ðu hauest is broken
Al ðu forbreðes,
forwurðes and forȝules.

7

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter, lxxxii. 9 [lxxxiii. 10]. Þai forworthed in Endor.

8

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 780. His werkes for-worthes þat he bygynnes.

9

  2.  To degenerate into, become (something inferior).

10

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 368, 370. Þeo þet schulden one lecnen hore soule mid heorte bireousunge & flesshes pinunge, uorwurðeð fisiciens & licomes leche. Ibid., 422. Ancre ne schal nout forwurðen scolmeistre.

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