forbearing

[Bailey]

for·bear 1(fôr-bâr)
v. for·bore (-bôr, -br), for·borne (-bôrn, -brn), for·bear·ing, for·bears
v.tr.
1. To refrain from; resist: forbear replying. See Synonyms at refrain1.
2. To desist from; cease.
3. Obsolete To avoid or shun.
v.intr.
1. To hold back; refrain.
2. To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation.



[Middle English forberen, from Old English forberan, to endure; see bher-1 in Indo-European roots.]



for·bearer n.


for·bear 2(fôrbâr, fr-)
n.
Variant of forebear.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

mark my-forbears-were-not-ursine Bailey

[Slava]

To date, the Good Dr. has forborne tackling this one. Perhaps we can nudge him a wee bit? It's an ailing word we almost never see. It needs Dr-ing.