forbid
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English forbeden, from Old English forbēodan (“to forbid, prohibit, restrain, refuse, repeal, annul”), equivalent to for- (“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 (faurbiudan).
Pronunciation [edit]
Verb [edit]
forbid (third-person singular simple present forbids, present participle forbidding, simple past forbid, forbade or forbad, past participle forbidden)
- To disallow, proscribe
- 1908, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
- ...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.
- 1908, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
Usage notes [edit]
- This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive when the forbidden person is mentioned, and the gerund (-ing) otherwise. See Appendix:English catenative verbs. 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)
Synonyms [edit]
- prohibit
- disallow
- ban
- See also Wikisaurus:prohibit
Translations [edit]
to disallow
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References [edit]
- forbid in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- forbid in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
