Middle English Dictionary Entry
fō̆rbī prep.
Entry Info
| Forms | fō̆rbī prep. Also forbe. |
| Etymology | From adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Past or by (something in space); also, to or near to.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20884 : Quils þat he him forbi [Frf: bi ham forþ] glad.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5471 : Alisaunder comeþ vpon his mule..And flyngeþ gode skowr hem forby.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.928 : Grekes moste..Homward saille forby his contre.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)617 : No man durst gon..forby [vr. forthby] that passage.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.563 : He rood forby places of the town In which he whilom hadde al his plesaunce.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)164/28 : Þer cam a worschepful clerk forby hir.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4641 : Or any doom forbi ther lippis pace.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)8/33 : Alexander passed forby þe place.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4614 : A greth cumpany Of maydyns þai seyin comyn hem forby.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)5748 : Thurgh the helme the spere yode And euen forbi the visage glode.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)143 : Yf wee sufferede nethere frende nere foo..To passe forby us in tyme of werrynge.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)247/11 : Þe erl com forby þe leprys hows.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)84 : As he went forby þis hill.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)136.295 (v.2:p.372) : A gret multitude of deuyls with grete dene went forby the celle of an holy hermyte.
2.
Past or through (things in a series).
Associated quotations
- ?c1425 Craft Number.(Eg 2622)11/21 : Do away 4 & write þere 2, & latte þe neþer figure stonde stille, & so go forby oþer figuris till þou come to þe ende.
3.
(a) Beyond or further than (something), more than, surpassing; (b) in comparison with; (c) in preference to, rather than, rather than to.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3988 : 'Far forð,' quað ðe angel, 'oc loc ðe wel, forbi min red, quað ðu non del.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13314 : Of all he mad him most weldand, Forbi [Göt: Bifor] all his oþer feris.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)44.3 : Fairest ofe schap opon to se Forbi sones ofe men.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.26 : In Lyncoln castelle ligges ȝit a stone þat Hauelok kast wele forbi euer ilkone.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)483 : What maystery þe þynkez Þus þy freke to forfare forbi alle oþer!
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)652 : Þe fyft fyue þat I finde þat þe frek vsed, Watz fraunchyse and felaȝschyp forbe al þyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3624 : But forby alle, þe faire quene Eleyne Wailleth, crieth wiþ a dedly chere.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)107/10 : Þat folk er wonder sutell of witte..forby any oþer folk.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)292/9 : He had grete mervell what sho was at shynyd so forbe all þe toder.
b
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)509/18 : Ye hafe a ristfull & a quiett lyffe forby þat I hafe.
c
- (1387) Will in Bk.Lond.E.210 : Y will þat John Edmund [have]..þe kechyn þat stont in forneys, he to paie þerfor as it ys worthy, forbe ony other man.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27364 : Hu soft it her es for to mend, Forbi þat pine wit-vten end.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)77/14 : Haue no merueile whi I sette þees wordes forby alle oþer.
- a1425(?a1400) PCounsel.(Hrl 674)152/14 : Any oþer priue condycion þat falliþ to þe beyng of man forby þe beyng of eny oþer creature.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)101/26 : Wymmen of þat cuntree þat er weddid beres crownes apon þaire heuedes þat þai may be knawen by, forby þaim þat er vnweddid.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.160 : Godson hadde the chosyn..forbe othere wymmen alle.