forhabban

Old English

Etymology

Equivalent to for- +‎ habban.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /forˈxɑb.bɑn/, [forˈhɑb.bɑn]

Verb

forhabban

1. (transitive) to hold in, restrain, retain
   • 1921, Joseph Bosworth, Thomas Northcote Toller, Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online:

     Hī ne mihton forhabban merestrēames mōd, ac hē manegum gescēod.

     They could not restrain the sea-stream's spirit/pride, but it separated for many.

2. (transitive, reflexive) to restrain one's self from (+ fram)
   • 1921, Joseph Bosworth, Thomas Northcote Toller, Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online:

     Forhæfde hē hine fram his gebēorscipe.

     He restrained himself from his beer party.

3. (intransitive) to abstain, refrain (+ fram)
   • 1921, Joseph Bosworth, Thomas Northcote Toller, Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online:

     Scolde hēo forhabban fram ingange Godes hūses.

     She must refrain from entering into God's house.

Conjugation

Conjugation of forhabban (weak class 3)

infinitive	forhabban	forhæbbenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	forhæbbe	forhæfde
second person singular	forhæfst	forhæfdest
third person singular	forhæfþ	forhæfde
plural	forhabbaþ	forhæfdon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	forhæbbe	forhæfde
plural	forhæbben	forhæfden
imperative
singular	forhafa
plural	forhabbaþ
participle	present	past
	forhæbbende	forhæfd

Derived terms

• forhæbbend m (“one who stays abstinent”)
• forhæfed (“continent, abstinent”)
• forhæfednes f (“restraint, abstinence”)

References

• Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller (1898) “forhabban”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.