Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Forbid

For-bid′

(fŏr-bĭd′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp.
Forbade
(fŏr-băd′)
;
p. p.
Forbidden
(fŏr-bĭd′d’n)
(
Forbid
,
[Obs.]
);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Forbidding
(fŏr-bĭd′dĭng)
.]
[OE.
forbeden
, AS.
forbeódan
; pref.
for-
+
beódan
to bid; akin to D.
verbieden
, G.
verbieten
, Icel.
fyrirbjōða
,
forboða
, Sw.
förbjuda
, Dan.
forbyde
. See
Bid
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
To command against, or contrary to; to prohibit; to interdict.
More than I have said . . .
The leisure and enforcement of the time
Forbids
to dwell upon.
Shakespeare
2.
To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command; to command not to enter.
Have I not
forbid
her my house?
Shakespeare
3.
To oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command;
as, an impassable river
forbids
the approach of the army
.
A blaze of glory that
forbids
the sight.
Dryden.
4.
To accurse; to blast.
[Obs.]
He shall live a man
forbid
.
Shakespeare
Syn. – To prohibit; interdict; hinder; preclude; withhold; restrain; prevent. See
Prohibit
.

For-bid′

,
Verb.
I.
To utter a prohibition; to prevent; to hinder.
“I did not or forbid.”
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition


Forbid

FORBID'

,
Verb.
T.
pret. forbad; pp. forbid, forbidden. Literally, to bid or command against. Hence,
1.
To prohibit; to interdict; to command to forbear or not to do. The laws of God forbid us to swear. Good manners also forbid us to use profane language. All servile labor and idle amusements on the sabbath are forbidden.
2.
To command not to enter; as, I have forbid him my house or presence. This phrase seems to be elliptical; to forbid from entering or approaching.
3.
To oppose; to hinder; to obstruct. An impassable river forbids the approach of the army.
A blaze of glory that forbids the sight.
4.
To accurse; to blast. Obs.

FORBID'

,
Verb.
I.
To utter a prohibition; but in the intransitive form, there is always an ellipsis. I would go, but my state of health forbids, that is, forbids me to go, or my going.

Definition 2024


forbid

forbid

English

Verb

forbid (third-person singular simple present forbids, present participle forbidding, simple past forbid or forbade or forbad, past participle forbidden)

  1. (transitive) To disallow; to proscribe.
    Smoking in the restaurant is forbidden.
    • 1908, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
      [] the Mole recollected that animal-etiquette forbade any sort of comment on the sudden disappearance of one's friends at any moment, for any reason or no reason whatever.
  2. (transitive) To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command.
    • Shakespeare
      Have I not forbid her my house?
  3. (transitive) To oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command.
    An impassable river forbids the approach of the army.
    • Dryden
      a blaze of glory that forbids the sight
  4. (transitive, obsolete) To accurse; to blast.
    • Shakespeare
      He shall live a man forbid.
  5. (transitive, obsolete) To defy; to challenge.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of L. Andrews to this entry?)

Usage notes

  • This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive when the forbidden person is mentioned, and the gerund (-ing) otherwise. See Appendix:English catenative verbs. Examples:
    • The management forbids employees to smoke in the office. (Active; those subject to prohibition are identified)
    • Employees are forbidden to smoke in the office. (Passive; those subject to prohibition are identified)
    • The management forbids smoking in the office. (Active; those subject to prohibition are not identified)
    • Smoking in the office is forbidden. (Passive; those subject to prohibition are not identified)

Synonyms

Translations

References

  • forbid in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • forbid in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913