Forbid
Pronunciation
- IPA: /fə(ɹ)ˈbɪd/
- Rhymes: -ɪd
Origin
From Middle English forbeden, from Old English forbÄ“odan ("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 ð†ðŒ°ðŒ¿ð‚ðŒ±ðŒ¹ðŒ¿ðŒ³ðŒ°ðŒ½.
Full definition of forbid
Verb
- (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.
- (transitive) To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command.
- ShakespeareHave I not forbid her my house?
- (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
- (transitive, obsolete) To accurse; to blast.
- ShakespeareHe shall live a man forbid.
- (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)