forshape

English

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English forshapen, forschapen (“to transform”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English forsċieppan, forsċeppan (“to transform”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *fra- + *skapjaną, equivalent to for- +‎ shape. Cognate with German verschaffen (“to provide, supply, furnish”), Swedish förskapa (“to cut out”).

Verb

forshape (third-person singular simple present forshapes, present participle forshaping, simple past forshope or forshaped, past participle forshapen or forshaped)

1. (transitive, UK dialectal) To metamorphose; change the shape of; transform.

   Unkindelich he was transformed, That he which erst a man was formed, Into a woman was forshape[n]. ― Gower.

2. (transitive, UK dialectal) To put out of shape; distort; make misshapen; disfigure.