• Forbid

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /fÉ™(ɹ)ˈbɪd/
    • Rhymes: -ɪd

    Origin

    From Middle English forbeden, from Old English forbēodan ("to forbid, prohibit, restrain, refuse, repeal, annul"), equivalent to -("from, away") + bid("to offer, proclaim"). Cognate with Dutch verbieden ("to forbid"), German verbieten ("to forbid"), Danish forbyde ("to forbid"), Swedish förbjuda ("to forbid"), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌱𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽.

    Full definition of forbid

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To disallow; to proscribe.Smoking in the restaurant is forbidden.
      • 1908, Kenneth Grahame, ... 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.
      • ShakespeareHave 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.
      • Drydena blaze of glory that forbids the sight
    4. (transitive, obsolete) To accurse; to blast.
      • ShakespeareHe shall live a man forbid.
    5. (transitive, obsolete) To defy; to challenge.

    Usage notes

    This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive when the forbidden person is mentioned, and the gerund (-ing) otherwise. See . 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)

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