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forwork. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
forwork, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
forwork in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
forwork you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From Middle English forwirken, forwerken, forwurchen, from Old English forwerċan, forwyrċan (“to do wrong, sin; ruin, undo, destroy; condemn, convict, curse; forfeit; barricade, obstruct, close up”), from Proto-Germanic *frawurkijaną, equivalent to for- + work. Cognate with Dutch verwerken (“to digest, assimilate, work up, put into action”), German verwirken (“to forfeit”), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽 (frawaurkjan).
Verb
forwork (third-person singular simple present forworks, present participle forworking, simple past and past participle forworked or forwrought)
- (archaic, transitive) To forfeit (a possession, privilege, etc.); ruin (oneself) by one's own conduct.
- (archaic, transitive) To obstruct; barricade; block.
1881, Grant Allen, Early Britain:And Æthelwold sat within the ham, with the men that to him had bowed, and he had forwrought [obstructed] all the gates in, and said that he would either there live or there lie.
- (archaic, transitive) To do wrong to; injure; scathe.
- (archaic, transitive) To overwork; exhaust with toil.
1889, St. John's College (University of Cambridge), The Eagle:And toiling so, well-nigh forwrought, She prayed full fervently; […]