fora

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Forum \Fo"rum\, n.; pl. E. {Forums}, L. {Fora}. [L.; akin to
   foris, foras, out of doors. See {Foreign}.]
   1. A market place or public place in Rome, where causes were
      judicially tried, and orations delivered to the people.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A tribunal; a court; an assembly empowered to hear and
      decide causes.
      [1913 Webster]

            He [Lord Camden] was . . . more eminent in the
            senate than in the forum.             --Brougham.
      [1913 Webster]

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

fora
 pl.n.

   Plural of {forum}.

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

forum
fora
topic group

   <messaging> (Plural "fora" or "forums") Any discussion group
   accessible through a dial-in {BBS} (e.g. {GEnie}, {CI$}), a
   {mailing list}, or a {Usenet} {newsgroup} (see {network,
   the}).  A forum functions much like a {bulletin board}; users
   submit {postings} for all to read and discussion ensues.

   Contrast real-time {chat} or point-to-point personal {e-mail}.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1998-01-18)

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