forspeak

English

Alternative forms

• forespeak

Etymology

From for- +‎ speak.

Verb

forspeak (third-person singular simple present forspeaks, present participle forspeaking, simple past forspoke, past participle forspoken)

1. (transitive, UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To charm; bewitch.
   • 1601, Thomas Campion, ‘So tyr'd are all my thoughts’:

     How are my powres fore-spoke? what strange distaste is this?

2. (transitive, UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To injure or cause bad luck through immoderate praise or flattery; affect with the curse of an evil tongue, which brings ill luck upon all objects of its praise.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To forbid; prohibit. [15th-19th c.]

   Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars, And say'st, it is not fit. ― Shakespeare.

Anagrams

• speak for

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Scots

Etymology

From Middle English forspeken (“to bewitch”), from Old English forsprecan (“to speak in vain, speak amiss, denounce, deny”).

Verb

tae forspeak

1. To bewitch, cast a spell over, especially accompanied by undue praise or flattery, seduce