forbear

forbear
    n 1: a person from whom you are descended [syn: {forebear},
         {forbear}]
    v 1: refrain from doing; "she forbore a snicker" [syn:
         {forbear}, {hold back}]
    2: resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back";
       "she could not forbear weeping" [syn: {refrain}, {forbear}]
       [ant: {act}, {move}]
    

Forbear \For*bear"\ (f[o^]r*b[^a]r"), n. [See {Fore}, and {Bear}
   to produce.]
   An ancestor; a forefather; -- usually in the plural. [Scot.]
   [Also spelled {forebear}.] "Your forbears of old." --Sir W.
   Scott.
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Forbear \For*bear"\ (f[o^]r*b[^a]r"), v. i. [imp.
   {Forbore}({Forbare}, [Obs.]); p. p. {Forborne}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Forbearing}.] [OE. forberen, AS. forberan; pref. for- +
   beran to bear. See {Bear} to support.]
   1. To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay.
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            Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall
            I forbear?                            --1 Kings
                                                  xxii. 6.
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   2. To refuse; to decline; to give no heed.
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            Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they
            will hear, or whether they will forbear. --Ezek. ii.
                                                  7.
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   3. To control one's self when provoked.
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            The kindest and the happiest pair
            Will find occasion to forbear.        --Cowper.
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            Both bear and forbear.                --Old Proverb.
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Forbear \For*bear"\, v. t.
   1. To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; to give up;
      as, to forbear the use of a word of doubtful propriety.
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            But let me that plunder forbear.      --Shenstone.
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            The King
            In open battle or the tilting field
            Forbore his own advantage.            --Tennyson.
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   2. To treat with consideration or indulgence.
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            Forbearing one another in love.       --Eph. iv. 2.
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   3. To cease from bearing. [Obs.]
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            Whenas my womb her burden would forbear. --Spenser.
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61 Moby Thesaurus words for "forbear":
      abstain, abstain from, avoid, be patient, bear,
      bear with composure, bridle, carry on, carry through, cease, curb,
      desist, dispense with, do without, endure, escape, eschew, evade,
      forgive, forgo, give quarter, have mercy upon, have pity, hold,
      hold aloof from, hold back, hold off, inhibit, keep, keep back,
      keep from, keep in hand, let alone, let go by, let up on, melt,
      never touch, not touch, not use, pardon, pass up, refrain,
      refrain from, relax, relent, reprieve, reserve, restrain,
      sacrifice, save, shun, spare, stand aloof from, suffer,
      take pity on, thaw, tolerate, wait, wait it out, waive, withhold