Middle English Dictionary Entry

fordọ̄n v.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp.dōn.
1.
(a) To destroy or annihilate (something); to annihilate (the earth), wreck (a building), ruin (the fertility of soil); to obliterate (a painting, a stain), cover up (a well); (b) to devastate, pillage, or ravage (a country, city, etc.); also, to ruin (a country by misrule); (c) to be destroyed, perish.
2.
(a) To put (someone) to death, to kill; (b) to ruin (someone), bring into disgrace; to lead (someone) to ruin or perdition; (c) to condemn or damn (someone); fordon and fordemed, condemned and doomed.
3.
(a) To render (something) ineffective or useless; to frustrate; (b) to prevent (something), keep (an event) from taking place, prevent (someone from doing something); (c) to defeat (an enemy), to overcome (an obstacle, a danger).
4.
(a) To vitiate or invalidate (something), abrogate or annul (a law, a right), abolish (a custom), discard (a doctrine, a commandment); (b) to break or violate (a law, pledge, commandment), infringe upon (a king's authority); (c) to forfeit (a right).
5.
(a) To ruin or destroy (a virtue, affection, hope, fame, health, etc.); (b) relieve or dispel (grief, pain, disease, etc.).
6.
(a) To drive out or overcome (sin, temptation, etc.); also, to obtain forgiveness for (sin); (b) to blot out (sin); to do away with (another's sin) by atonement.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.30ra (2.3) : Be cause of vnkynd hete menkede wiþ kynd hete, quenchand & fordoand þe kynd hete and drawand out fro þe kynd hete þo parties þat be more subtile..þe vryn is dymish and bloissch.
Note: New spelling (pr. ppl.): fordoand.