forefend

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • v forefend prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening "Let's avoid a confrontation","head off a confrontation","avert a strike"
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • v. t Forefend To hinder; to fend off; to avert; to prevent the approach of; to forbid or prohibit. See Forfend. "God forefend it should ever be recorded in our history.""It would be a far better work . . . to forefend the cruelty."
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • forefend See forfend.
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Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
OE. forfenden,; pref. for-, + fenden, to fend. See Fend (v. t.)

Usage

In literature:

There's no forefending them.
"John Barleycorn" by Jack London
God of Abraham forefend!
"Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ" by Lew Wallace
Forefend me from a man who weighs every expression with Scotch prudence.
"More Letters of Charles Darwin Volume II" by Charles Darwin
Heaven forefend that I should groan for myself, or you for me!
"The Adventures of Harry Richmond, Complete" by George Meredith
Heaven forefend that she should come to the throne!
"Unknown to History" by Charlotte M. Yonge
Thou wilt be serving me still if again there be, which Heaven forefend, stricken fields in my cause or my son's.
"The Herd Boy and His Hermit" by Charlotte M. Yonge
Heaven forefend that I should stand in the way of thy princely favours.
"The Last Of The Barons, Complete" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
But Heaven forefend I should speak of the reverend Prelate as one whose peril is imminent.
"Quentin Durward" by Sir Walter Scott
Everything to forefend against a day of stress or trial had been done, even to instilling courage into youthful hearts.
"Wells Brothers" by Andy Adams
Heaven forefend all the temptations that compass him in the modern Babylon.
"Eugene Field, A Study In Heredity And Contradictions" by Slason Thompson
I never, indeed, horsewhipped the wrong man, but that is only because I never horsewhipped anybody at all, Heaven forefend!
"Punch, Or The London Charivari, Volume 102, January 23, 1892" by Various
Forefend them, God, from me!
"Henry Brocken" by Walter J. de la Mare
I wonder what I should think of the book were I to read it now, which Heaven forefend!
"Records of a Girlhood" by Frances Ann Kemble
I don't think those entertainments are dangerously exciting to her now; and Heaven forefend that she should write poetry!
"Guy Livingstone;" by George A. Lawrence
Now ye gods forefend!
"The Armourer's Prentices" by Charlotte M. Yonge
To forefend this unwelcome adoption, let me recapitulate in a few propositions the reasons why I am not an hegelian.
"The Will to Believe" by William James
I was the man whose love it had forefended.
"The Strange Adventures of Mr. Middleton" by Wardon Allan Curtis
The saints forefend my drying.
"Mother Truth's Melodies" by Mrs. E. P. Miller
The saints forefend that my presence bring evil to thy retreat!
"The Siege of Norwich Castle" by Matilda Maria Blake
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In poetry:

'Forefend it, heaven!' Count Louis cried,
'And let the righteous plead:
My country is a willing bride,
Was never slave decreed.
"Archduchess Anne" by George Meredith
'Now Heaven forefend that ill grow worse:
Enough that ill be ill.
I know of a spell to draw May Carleton,
And bend her to your will.'
"The Priest's Heart" by Charles Kingsley

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