forbid

Meaning

1. To disallow; to proscribe.
2. To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command.
3. To oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command.
4. (obsolete) To accurse; to blast.
5. (obsolete) To defy; to challenge.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fɚˈbɪd/

Etymology

From Middle English forbeden, from Old English forbēodan (“to forbid, prohibit, restrain, refuse, repeal, annul”), from Proto-Germanic *furibeudaną, from *furi + *beudaną. Equivalent to for- (“from, away”) + bid (“to offer, proclaim”). Cognate with Dutch verbieden (“to forbid”), German verbieten (“to forbid”), Danish forbyde (“to forbid”),
Norwegian Bokmål forby (“to forbid”), Swedish förbjuda (“to forbid”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌱𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽 (faurbiudan). Related to forbode.