1. To stop; to cease; to hold from proceeding; as, forbear to repeat these reproachful words.

2. To pause; to delay; as, forbear a while.

3. To abstain; to omit; to hold one's self from motion or entering on an affair.

Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? 1 Ki 22.

4. To refuse; to decline.

Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

Ezek 2.

5. To be patient; to restrain from action or violence. Prov 25:15.

, v.t.

1. To avoid voluntarily; to decline.

Forbear his presence.

2. To abstain from; to omit; to avoid doing. Learn from the scriptures what you ought to do and what to forbear.

Have we not power to forbear working? 1 Cor 9.

3. To spare; to treat with indulgence and patience.

Forbearing one another in love. Eph 4.

4. To withhold.

Forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. 2 Chr 35.