The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 623
Forslack <Xpage=588>
For*slack" (?) , v. t. [Pref. for- + slack to neglect.] To neglect by idleness; to delay or to waste by sloth. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Forslouthe <Xpage=588>
For*slouth"e (?) , v. t. [See For- , and Slouth .] To lose by sloth or negligence. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Forslow <Xpage=588>
For*slow" (?) , v. t. [Pref. for- + slow .] To delay; to hinder; to neglect; to put off. [Obs.]
Bacon.
Forslow <Xpage=588>
For*slow" , v. i. To loiter. [Obs.]
Shak.
Forslugge <Xpage=588>
For*slug"ge (?) , v. t. [See Slug to be idle.] To lsoe by idleness or slotch. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Forsooth <Xpage=588>
For*sooth" (?) , adv. [AS. fors\'d3\'eb ; for , prep. + s\'d3\'eb sooth, truth. See For , prep ., and Sooth .] In truth; in fact; certainly; very well; -- formerly used as an expression of deference or respect, especially to woman; now used ironically or contemptuously.
A fit man, forsooth , to govern a realm! Hayward.
Our old English word forsooth has been changed for the French madam . Guardian.
Forsooth <Xpage=588>
For*sooth" , v. t. To address respectfully with the term forsooth . [Obs.]
The captain of the "Charles" had forsoothed her, though he knew her well enough and she him. Pepys.
Forsooth <Xpage=588>
For*sooth" , n. A person who used forsooth much; a very ceremonious and deferential person. [R.]
You sip so like a forsooth of the city. B. Jonson.
Forspeak <Xpage=588>
For*speak" (?) , v. t. [Pref. for- + speak .] 1. To forbid; to prohibit.
Shak.
2. To bewitch. [Obs.]
Drayton.
Forspent <Xpage=588>
For*spent" (?) , a. [AS. forspendan to consume; pref. for- + spendan to spend.] Wasted in strength; tired; exhausted. [Archaic]
A gentleman almost forspent with speed. Shak.
Forstall <Xpage=588>
For*stall" (?) , v. t. To forestall. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Forster <Xpage=588>
Fors"ter (?) , n. A forester. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Forstraught <Xpage=588>
For*straught" (?) , p. p. & a. [Pref. for- + straught ; cf. distraught .] Distracted. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Forswat <Xpage=588>
For*swat" (?) , a. [See Sweat .] Spent with heat; covered with sweat. [Obs.]
P. Sidney.
Forswear <Xpage=588>
For*swear" (?) , v. t. [ imp. Forswore (?) ; p. p. Forsworn (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Forswearing .] [OE. forsweren , forswerien , AS. forswerian ; pref. for- + swerian to swear. See For- , and Swear , v. i. ] 1. To reject or renounce upon oath; hence, to renounce earnestly, determinedly, or with protestations.
I . . . do forswear her. Shak.
2. To deny upon oath.
Like innocence, and as serenely bold As truth, how loudly he forswears thy gold! Dryden.
To forswear one's self , to swear falsely; to pe<?/ure one's self. "Thou shalt not forswear thyself ."
<?/tt. v. 33.
Syn. -- See Perjure .
Forswear <Xpage=588>
For*swear" , v. i. To swear falsely; to commit perjury.
Shak.
Forswearer <Xpage=588>
For*swear"er (?) , n. One who rejects of renounces upon oath; one who swears a false oath.
Forswonk <Xpage=588>
For*swonk" (?) , a. [Pref. for- + swonk , p.p. of swink to labor. See Swink .] Overlabored; exhausted; worn out. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Forswore <Xpage=588>
For*swore" (?) , imp. of Forswear .
Forsworn <Xpage=588>
For*sworn" (?) , p. p. of Forswear .
Forswornness <Xpage=588>
For*sworn"ness , n. State of being forsworn. [R.]
Forsythia <Xpage=588>
For*syth"i*a (?) , a. [NL. Named after William Forsyth , who brought in from China.] (Bot.) A shrub of the Olive family, with yellow blossoms.
Fort <Xpage=588>
Fort (?) , n. [F., from fort strong, L. fortis ; perh. akin to Skr. darh to fix, make firm, and to E. firm Cf. Forte , Force , Fortalice , Comfort , Effort .] (Mil.) A strong or fortified place; usually, a small fortified place, occupied only by troops, surrounded with a ditch, rampart, and parapet, or with palisades, stockades, or other means of defense; a fortification.
Detached works, depending solely on their own strength, belong to the class of works termed forts . Farrow.
Fortalice <Xpage=588>
Fort"a*lice (?) , n. [LL. fortalitia , or OF. fortelesce . See Fortress .] (Mil.) A small outwork of a fortification; a fortilage; -- called also fortelace .
Forte <Xpage=588>
Forte (f&omac;rt) , n. [IT. forte : cf. F. fort . See Fort .] 1. The strong point; that in which one excels. <-- sense 2 is often pronounced f&omac;rt"&amac; -->
The construction of a fable seems by no means the forte of our modern poetical writers. Jeffrey.
2. The stronger part of the blade of a sword; the part of half nearest the hilt; -- opposed to foible .
Forte <Xpage=588>
For"te (f⊚r"t&asl; ∨ f&omac;r"t&asl;) , adv. [It. forte , a. & adv. , fr. L. fortis strong.] (Mus.) Loudly; strongly; powerfully.
Forted <Xpage=588>
Fort"ed (?) , a. Furnished with, or guarded by, forts; strengthened or defended, as by forts. [R.]
Shak.
Forth <Xpage=588>
Forth (?) , v. [AS. for&edh; , fr. for akin to D. voort , G. fort &root;78. See Fore , For , and cf. Afford , Further , adv .] 1. Forward; onward in time, place, or order; in advance from a given point; on to end; as, from that day forth ; one, two, three, and so forth .
Lucas was Paul's companion, at the leastway from the sixteenth of the Acts forth . Tyndale.
From this time forth , I never will speak word . Shak.
I repeated the Ave Maria; the inquisitor bad me say forth ; I said I was taught no more. Strype.
2. Out, as from a state of concealment, retirement, confinement, nondevelopment, or the like; out into notice or view; as, the plants in spring put forth leaves .
When winter past, and summer scarce begun, Invites them forth to labor in the sun. Dryden.
3. Beyond a (certain) boundary; away; abroad; out.
I have no mind of feasting forth to-night. Shak.
4. Throughly; from beginning to end. [Obs.]
Shak.
And so forth , Back and forth , From forth . See under And , Back , and From . -- Forth of , Forth from , out of [Obs.] Shak. -- To bring forth . See under Bring .
Forth <Xpage=588>
Forth , prep. Forth from; out of. [Archaic]
Some forth their cabins peep. Donne.
Forth <Xpage=588>
Forth , n. [OE., a ford. <?/ 78. See Frith .] A way; a passage or ford. [Obs.]
Todd.
Forthby <Xpage=588>
Forth`by" (?) , adv. [Obs.] See Forby .
Forthcoming <Xpage=588>
Forth"com`ing (? ∨ ?) , a. Ready or about to appear; making appearance.
Forthgoing <Xpage=588>
Forth"go`ing (? ∨ ?) , n. A going forth; an utterance.
A. Chalmers.
Forthgoing <Xpage=588>
Forth"go`ing , a. Going forth.
Forthink <Xpage=588>
For*think" (?) , v. t. To repent; to regret; to be sorry for; to cause regret. [Obs.] "Let it forthink you."
Tyndale.
That me forthinketh , quod this January. Chaucer.
Forthputing <Xpage=588>
Forth"put`ing (? ∨ ?) , a. Bold; forward; aggressive.
Forthright <Xpage=588>
Forth"right` (? ∨ ?) , adv. [ Forth , adv. + right , adv. ] Straight forward; in a straight direction. [Archaic]
Sir P. Sidney.
Forthright <Xpage=588>
Forth"right` , a. Direct; straightforward; as, a forthright man . [Archaic]
Lowell.
They were Night and Day, and Day and Night, Piligrims wight with steps forthright . Emerson.
Forthright <Xpage=588>
Forth"right` , n. A straight path. [Archaic]
Here's a maze trod, indeed, Through forthrights and meanders! Shak.
Forthrightness <Xpage=588>
Forth"right`ness , n. Straightforwardness; explicitness; directness. [Archaic]
Dante's concise forthrightness of phrase. Hawthorne.
Forthward <Xpage=588>
Forth"ward (?) , adv. [ Forth , adv. + -ward .] Forward. [Obs.]
Bp. Fisher.
Forthwith <Xpage=588>
Forth`with" (? ∨ ?; see With ) , adv. 1. Immediately; without delay; directly.
Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith . Acts ix. 18.
2. (Law) As soon as the thing required may be done by reasonable exertion confined to that object.
Bouvier.
Forthy <Xpage=588>
For*thy" (?) , adv. [AS. for&edh;&ymac; ; for , prep. + &edh;&ymac; , instrumental neut. of se , se\'a2 , &edh;\'91t , pron. demonstrative and article. See The .] Therefore. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Forties <Xpage=588>
For"ties (?) , n. pl. See Forty .
Fortieth <Xpage=588>
For"ti*eth (?) , a. [AS. fe\'a2wertigo<?/a . See Forty .] 1. Following the thirty-ninth, or preceded by thirty-nine units, things, or parts.
2. Constituting one of forty equal parts into which anything is divided.
Fortieth <Xpage=588>
For"ti*eth , n. One of forty equal parts into which one whole is divided; the quotient of a unit divided by forty; one next in order after the thirty-ninth.
Fortifiable <Xpage=588>
For"ti*fi`a*ble (?) , a. [Cf. OF. fortifiable .] Capable of being fortified.
Johnson.
Fortification <Xpage=588>
For`ti*fi*ca"tion (?) , n. [L. fortificatio : cf. F. fortification .] 1. The act of fortifying; the art or science of fortifying places in order to defend them against an enemy.
2. That which fortifies; especially, a work or works erected to defend a place against attack; a fortified place; a fortress; a fort; a castle.
Fortification agate , Scotch pebble.
Syn. -- Fortress; citadel; bulwark. See Fortress .
Fortifier <Xpage=588>
For"ti*fi`er (?) , n. One who, or that which, fortifies, strengthens, supports, or upholds.
Fortify <Xpage=588>
For"ti*fy (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fortified (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fortifying .] [F. fortifier , L. fortificare ; fortis strong + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Fort , and -fy .] 1. To add strength to; to strengthen; to confirm; to furnish with power to resist attack.
Timidity was fortified by pride. Gibbon.
Pride came to the aid of fancy, and both combined to fortify his resolution. Sir W. Scott.
2. To strengthen and secure by forts or batteries, or by surrounding with a wall or ditch or other military works; to render defensible against an attack by hostile forces.
Fortify <Xpage=588>
For"ti*fy , v. i. To raise defensive works.
Milton.
Fortilage <Xpage=588>
For"ti*lage (?; 48) , n. [Cf. Fortalice .] A little fort; a blockhouse. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Fortin <Xpage=588>
Fort"in (?) , n. [F. See Fort , n. ] A little fort; a fortlet. [Obs.]
Fortissimo <Xpage=588>
For*tis"si*mo (? ∨ ?) , adv. [It., superl. of forte , adv. See Forte , adv .] (Mus.) Very loud; with the utmost strength or loudness.
Fortition <Xpage=588>
For*ti"tion (?) , n. [See Fortuitous .] Casual choice; fortuitous selection; hazard. [R.]
No mode of election operating in the spirit of fortition or rotation can be generally good. Burke.
Fortitude <Xpage=588>
For"ti*tude (?) , n. [L. fortitudo , fr. fortis strong. See Fort .] 1. Power to resist attack; strength; firmness. [Obs.]
The fortitude of the place is best known to you. Shak.
2. That strength or firmness of mind which enables a person to encounter danger with coolness and courage, or to bear pain or adversity without murmuring, depression, or despondency; passive courage; resolute endurance; firmness in confronting or bearing up against danger or enduring trouble.
Extolling patience as the truest fortitude . Milton.
Fortitude is the guard and support of the other virtues. Locke.
Syn. -- Courage; resolution; resoluteness; endurance; bravery. See Courage , and Heroism .
Fortitudinous <Xpage=588>
For`ti*tu"di*nous (?) , a. Having fortitude; courageous. [R.]
Gibbon.
Fortlet <Xpage=588>
Fort"let (?) , n. A little fort. [R.]
Bailey.
Fortnight <Xpage=588>
Fort"night` (?; in U.S. often ?; 277) , n. [Contr. fr. fourteen nights , our ancestors reckoning time by nights and winters; so, also, seven nights , sennight , a week.] The space of fourteen days; two weeks.
Fortnightly <Xpage=588>
Fort"night`ly (?) , a. Occurring or appearing once in a fortnight; as, a fortnightly meeting of a club; a fortnightly magazine, or other publication. -- adv. Once in a fortnight; at intervals of a fortnight.
Fortread <Xpage=588>
For*tread" (?) , v. t. To tread down; to trample upon. [Obs.]
In hell shall they be all fortroden of devils. Chaucer.
Fortress <Xpage=588>
For"tress (?) , n. ; pl. Fortresses (#) . [F. forteresse , OF. forteresce , fortelesce , LL. foralitia , fr. L. fortis strong. See Fort , and cf. Fortalice .] A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; a fort; a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security.
Syn. -- Fortress , Fortification , Castle , Citadel . A fortress is constructed for military purposes only, and is permanently garrisoned; a fortification is built to defend harbors, cities, etc.; a castle is a fortress of early times which was ordinarily a palatial dwelling; a citadel is the stronghold of a fortress or city, etc.
Fortress <Xpage=588>
For"tress , v. t. To furnish with a fortress or with fortresses; to guard; to fortify.
Shak.
Fortuitous <Xpage=588>
For*tu"i*tous (?) , a. [L. fortuitus ; akin to forte , adv., by chance, prop. abl. of fors , fortis , chance. See Fortune .] 1. Happening by chance; coming or occuring unexpectedly, or without any known cause; chance; as, the fortuitous concourse of atoms .
It was from causes seemingly fortuitous . . . that all the mighty effects of the Reformation flowed. Robertson.
So as to throw a glancing and fortuitous light upon the whole. Hazlitt.
2. (LAw) Happening independently of human will or means of foresight; resulting from unavoidable physical causes.
Abbott.
Syn. -- Accidental; casual; contingent; incidental. See Accidental .
-- For*tu"i*tous*ly , adv. -- For*tu"i*tous*ness , n.
Fortuity <Xpage=588>
For*tu"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. fortuit\'82 .] Accident; chance; casualty.
D. Forbes (1750).
Fortunate <Xpage=588>
For"tu*nate (?; 135) , a. [L. fortunatus , p.p. of fortunare to make fortunate or prosperous, fr. fortuna . See Fortune , n. ] 1. Coming by good luck or favorable chance; bringing some good thing not foreseen as certain; presaging happiness; auspicious; as, a fortunate event; a fortunate concurrence of circumstances; a fortunate investment.
2. Receiving same unforeseen or unexpected good, or some good which was not dependent on one's own skill or efforts; favored with good forune; lucky.
Syn. -- Auspicious; lucky; prosperous; successful; favored; happy. -- Fortunate , Successful , Prosperous . A man is fortunate , when he is favored of fortune, and has unusual blessings fall to his lot; successful when he gains what he aims at; prosperous when he succeeds in those things which men commonly desire. One may be fortunate , in some cases, where he is not successful ; he may be successful , but, if he has been mistaken in the value of what he has aimed at, he may for that reason fail to be prosperous .
Fortunately <Xpage=588>
For"tu*nate*ly , adv. In a fortunate manner; luckily; successfully; happily.
Fortunateness <Xpage=588>
For"tu*nate*ness , n. The condition or quality of being fortunate; good luck; success; happiness.
<page="589"> Page 589
Fortune <Xpage=589>
For"tune (?; 135) , n. [F. fortune , L. fortuna ; akin to fors , fortis , chance, prob. fr. ferre to bear, bring. See Bear to support, and cf. Fortuitous .] 1. The arrival of something in a sudden or unexpected manner; chance; accident; luck; hap; also, the personified or deified power regarded as determining human success, apportioning happiness and unhappiness, and distributing arbitrarily or fortuitously the lots of life.
'T is more by fortune , lady, than by merit. Shak.
O Fortune , Fortune , all men call thee fickle. Shak.
2. That which befalls or is to befall one; lot in life, or event in any particular undertaking; fate; destiny; as, to tell one's fortune .
You, who men's fortunes in their faces read. Cowley.
3. That which comes as the result of an undertaking or of a course of action; good or ill success; especially, favorable issue; happy event; success; prosperity as reached partly by chance and partly by effort.
Our equal crimes shall equal fortune give. Dryden.