Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
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
forwork will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
forwork, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
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.
- Synonym: shoot oneself in the foot
- (archaic, transitive) To obstruct; barricade; block.
- Synonyms: forslow; see also Thesaurus:obstruct
1881, Grant Allen, Early Britain:And Æthelwold sat within the ham, with the men that to him had bowed, and he had forwrought all the gates in, and said that he would either there live or there lie.
- (archaic, transitive) To do wrong to; injure; scathe.
- Synonyms: harm, wound; see also Thesaurus:harm, Thesaurus:do evil
- (archaic, transitive) To overwork; exhaust with toil.
- Synonyms: burn out, overburden, overlabour, overply, overtax, run someone ragged
1889, St. John's College (University of Cambridge), The Eagle:And toiling so, well-nigh forwrought, She prayed full fervently; […]