KJV Dictionary Definition: forbear

forbear

FORBEAR, v.i. pret. forbore; pp. forborne.

1. To stop; to cease; to hold from proceeding; as, forbear to repeat these reproachful words.

2. To pause; to delay; as, forbear a while.

3. To abstain; to omit; to hold one's self from motion or entering on an affair.

Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? 1Kings 22.

4. To refuse; to decline.

Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

Ezek. 2.

5. To be patient; to restrain from action or violence. Prov. 25:15.

FORBEAR, v.t.

1. To avoid voluntarily; to decline.

Forbear his presence.

2. To abstain from; to omit; to avoid doing. Learn from the scriptures what you ought to do and what to forbear.

Have we not power to forbear working? 1Cor. 9.

3. To spare; to treat with indulgence and patience.

Forbearing one another in love. Eph. 4.

4. To withhold.

Forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. 2Chron. 35.

forbearance

FORBEARANCE, n.

1. The act of avoiding, shunning or omitting; either the cessation or intermission of an act commenced, or a withholding from beginning an act. Liberty is the power of doing or forbearing an action, according as the doing or forbearance has a preference in the mind. The forbearance of sin is followed with satisfaction of mind.

2. Command of temper; restraint of passions.

3. The exercise of patience; long suffering; indulgence towards those who injure us; lenity; delay of resentment or punishment.

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long suffering? Rom. 2.

forbearer

FORBEARER, n. One that intermits or intercepts.

forbearing

FORBEARING, ppr.

1. Ceasing; pausing; withholding from action; exercising patience and indulgence.

2. a. Patient; long suffering.

FORBEARING, n. A ceasing or restraining from action; patience; long suffering.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
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