See Also: forsake(dictionary)
forsake(dictionary)

forsake (iou)



forsake verb trans. .
[Old English forsacan = Old Saxon forsakan (Dutch verzaken), Old High German firsahhan, from West Germanic, from base of FOR-1 + Old English sacan quarrel, accuse: see SAKE noun1.]
1. Decline or refuse (something offered, to do). OE-E17.
b. Avoid, shun, refuse to undertake or have to do with. ME-L16.
c. Deny (an accusation, oneself, etc.); deny or renounce allegiance to (God, a lord, etc.). ME-L16.
2. Give up, surrender, (esp. something valued). Passing into sense 3. OE.
Shakespeare Rape of Lucrece And for himself himself he must forsake.
b. Break off from or renounce (a task, plan, doctrine, or belief, or (esp.) a sin). Formerly also with inf. as obj. ME.
J. T. Fowler The southern Picts..had forsaken idolatry.
3. Abandon, withdraw from; esp. withdraw one's help, friendship, or companionship from, desert. ME.
G. Orwell His nerve so forsook him that he began shouting for mercy even before the beating began. B. Pym It was as if a monk should forsake his cloister to embrace the riches of the world.
forsaken ppl adjective deserted, left solitary or desolate LME.
forsakenly adverb L16.
forsakenness [-n-n-] noun E17.
forsaker noun LME.