Forfend

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈfɔːˌfÉ›nd/
• Rhymes: -É›nd

Origin

Middle English forfenden ("to ward off, protect, prohibit"). More at - + fend.

Full definition of forfend

Verb

1. (transitive, dated) To prohibit; to forbid; to avert.
• 1594, Thomas Lodge, The Wounds of Civil War, act 4, scene 1, page 54:Clown: … You would know where Lord Anthonie is? I perceiue you. Shall I Å¿ay he is in yond farme houÅ¿e? I deceiue you. Shall I tell you this wine is for him? the gods forfend, and Å¿o I end. Go fellow fighters theres a bob for ye.
• 2008, Lew, short circuit operators, zbadnYZNaK6VM1zanZ2dnUVZ_r7inZ2d@comcast.comWhat? Multi-posting? Usenet Gods forfend!

Usage notes

This word is dated and becoming obsolete. Mostly used now in set expressions such as heaven forfend.