Middle English Dictionary Entry

for- pref.(2)
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
Prefix in several verbs and nouns taken from OF: for-juǧǧen [OF for-jugier] condemn, convict, banish; for-lancen [OF for-lancer] flush game; for-loinen [OF for-loignier] forsake, stray from; for-feit [OF for-fet, -fait]. In ME this OF prefix [L foris out-of-doors, abroad] coalesced with the OE prefix for-, with which it is partly synonymous, in such pairs as for-juǧǧen: for-dẹ̄men, for-bannen; for-feiten: for-dọ̄n, for-lẹ̄sen, for-lōsen.