Forfend
/fɔːˈfɛnd/ verb
verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To prohibit; to forbid; to avert. archaic
"Clown: … You would know where Lord Anthonie is? I perceiue you. Shall I ſay he is in yond farme houſe? I deceiue you. Shall I tell you this wine is for him? the gods forfend, and ſo I end. Go fellow fighters theres a bob for ye."
- 2 prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off wordnet
Example
More examples"That would be disastrous. Heaven forfend!"
Etymology
From Middle English forfenden (“to ward off, protect, prohibit”), equivalent to for- + fend.