View source for for-

{{also|Appendix:Variations of "for"}}
==English==

===Etymology 1===
{{root|en|ine-pro|*pro-}}
From {{inh|en|enm|for-}}, {{m|enm|vor-}}, {{m|enm|ver-}}, from {{inh|en|ang|for-}}, {{m|ang|fer-}}, {{m|ang|fær-}}, {{m|ang|fyr-|pos=prefix|t=far, away, completely}}, from the merger of {{inh|en|gem-pro|*fra-}} {{gloss|"away, away from"; see {{l|en|fro}}, {{l|en|from}}}} and {{inh|en|gem-pro|*fur-}}, {{m|gem-pro|*far-|t=through, completely, fully}}, from {{inh|en|ine-pro|*pro-}}, {{m|ine-pro|*per-}}, {{m|ine-pro|*pr-}}. Cognate with {{cog|sco|for-}}, {{cog|fy|fer-}}, {{m|fy|for-}}, {{cog|nl|ver-}}, {{cog|de|ver-}}, {{cog|sv|för-}}, {{cog|da|for-}}, {{cog|no|for-}}, {{cog|got|𐍆𐍂𐌰-}}, {{cog|la|pro-}}. More at {{l|en|for}}.

====Pronunciation====
* {{IPA|en|/fɔː(ɹ)/|a=stressed}}
* {{IPA|en|/fə(ɹ)/|a=unstressed}}

====Prefix====
{{en-prefix}}
# {{senseid|en|forth}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[forth|Forth]]: prefixed to verbs to indicate a direction of 'away', 'off', 'forth'.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forsteal|'''for'''steal]]}} is to steal away, {{uxi|en|[[forloppin|'''for'''loppin]]}} is being a runaway, {{uxi|en|[[forban|'''for'''ban]]}} is to exile, {{uxi|en|[[fordrive|'''for'''drive]]}} is to drive away, {{uxi|en|[[fortake|'''for'''take]]}} is to take away, {{uxi|en|[[forthrow|'''for'''throw]]}} is to throw off, {{uxi|en|[[forshake|'''for'''shake]]}} is to shake off, {{uxi|en|[[forhow|'''for'''how]]}} is to cast off
# {{senseid|en|exhausting}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[exhausting|Exhausting]]: prefixed to verbs with the sense of wearing or exhausting one's self.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forsing|'''for'''sing]]}} is to sing to exhaustion, {{uxi|en|[[forwander|'''for'''wander]]}} is to wander until weary, {{uxi|en|[[fortravel|'''for'''travel]]}} is to tire by travelling
# {{senseid|en|destructively}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[destructively|Destructively]]: prefixed to verbs with the sense of destruction or pain.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forhang|'''for'''hang]]}} is to hang to death, {{uxi|en|[[forthink|'''for'''think]]}} is to cause distress or regret to, {{uxi|en|[[fordo|'''for'''do]]}} is to kill
# {{senseid|en|wrongly}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[wrongly|Wrongly]]: prefixed to verbs with the sense of wrongly, amorally.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forteach|'''for'''teach]]}} is to misteach, {{uxi|en|[[forswear|'''for'''swear]]}} is to commit perjury, {{uxi|en|[[forworship|'''for'''worship]]}} is to worship wrongly, {{uxi|en|[[forlead|'''for'''lead]]}} is to mislead, {{uxi|en|[[forlive|'''for'''live]]}} is to live pervertedly
# {{senseid|en|neglectfully}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[neglectfully|Neglectfully]]: prefixed to verbs with the sense of abstaining from or neglecting.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forslip|'''for'''slip]]}} is to allow someone or something to escape by letting them slip by; {{uxi|en|[[forslug|'''for'''slug]]}} is to lose, neglect, or destroy by sluggishness; {{uxi|en|[[forslack|'''for'''slack]]}} is to lose or spoil by slackness
# {{senseid|en|very}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[very|Very]]: intensifying adjectives.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forblack|'''for'''black]]}} is extremely black, {{uxi|en|[[forswollen|'''for'''swollen]]}} is excessively swollen
# {{senseid|en|making}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[making|Making]]: prefixed to verbs to indicate the subject takes the character of the verb.
#: {{uxi|en|[[fordote|'''for'''dote]]}} is to make foolish or doting, {{uxi|en|[[forguilt|'''for'''guilt]]}} is to bring into a state of guilt
# {{senseid|en|excessively}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[excessively|Excessively]]: prefixed to verbs with the sense of doing so in excessive or overwhelm.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forwax|'''for'''wax]]}} is to grow to excess, {{uxi|en|[[forgrow|'''for'''grow]]}} is to grow to excess, {{uxi|en|[[forhare|'''for'''hare]]}} is to affright or harry exceedingly
# {{senseid|en|excluding}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[excluding|Excluding]]: prefixed to verbs to give the sense of prohibition or exclusion.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forjudge|'''for'''judge]]}} is to exclude by a judgment, {{uxi|en|[[forshut|'''for'''shut]]}} is to shut off or out, {{uxi|en|[[forbar|'''for'''bar]]}} is to exclude
# {{senseid|en|intensively}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[intensively|Intensively]]
#: {{uxi|en|[[forbeat|'''for'''beat]]}} is to beat, {{uxi|en|[[fordread|'''for'''dread]]}} is to be in dread of, {{uxi|en|[[forlay|'''for'''lay]]}} is to lie in wait for
# {{senseid|en|thoroughly}} {{lb|en|no longer productive}} [[thoroughly|Thoroughly]]: prefixed to verbs with the sense of thoroughly, all over.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forgrow|'''for'''grow]]}} is to become grown over or become covered with growth, {{uxi|en|[[forbathe|'''for'''bathe]]}} is to bathe abundantly or thoroughly, {{uxi|en|[[forseek|'''for'''seek]]}} is to seek thoroughly, {{uxi|en|[[forwrap|'''for'''wrap]]}} is to wrap up

=====Derived terms=====
{{prefixsee|en}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from forth}}
* {{l|en|forsteal}}
* {{l|en|forloppin}}
* {{l|en|forban}}
* {{l|en|fordrive}}
* {{l|en|fortake}}
* {{l|en|forthrow}}
* {{l|en|forshake}}
* {{l|en|forhow}}
* {{l|en|forcasten}}
* {{l|en|forcast}}
* {{l|en|formelt}}
* {{l|en|forpine}}
* {{l|en|forwear}}
* {{l|en|forpine}}
* {{l|en|fordo}}
* {{l|en|forbear}}
* {{l|en|forgo}}
* {{l|en|fordrive}}
* {{l|en|forgather}}
* {{l|en|forgive}}
* {{l|en|forbeat}}
* {{l|en|forbeat}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from exhausting}}
* {{l|en|forsing}}
* {{l|en|forwander}}
* {{l|en|fortravel}}
* {{l|en|forswonk}}
* {{l|en|forswunk}}
* {{l|en|fordone}}
* {{l|en|forbleed}}
* {{l|en|forswink}}
* {{l|en|fortravel}}
* {{l|en|forwake}}
* {{l|en|forweary}}
* {{l|en|forweep}}
* {{l|en|forfight}}
* {{l|en|forirk}}
* {{l|en|forwander}}
* {{l|en|fordo}}
* {{l|en|forwork}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from wrongly}}
* {{l|en|forteach}}
* {{l|en|forswear}}
* {{l|en|forworship}}
* {{l|en|forlead}}
* {{l|en|forlive}}
* {{l|en|forwork}}
* {{l|en|forbid}}
* {{l|en|forbode}}
* {{l|en|forswearer}}
* {{l|en|forwork}}
* {{l|en|forlive}}
* {{l|en|fortake}}
* {{l|en|forwork}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from destructively}}
* {{l|en|forhang}}
* {{l|en|forthink}}
* {{l|en|fordo}}
* {{l|en|forwall}}
* {{l|en|forwither}}
* {{l|en|forlornness}}
* {{l|en|forgab}}
* {{l|en|forworth}}
* {{l|en|forcleave}}
* {{l|en|forbreak}}
* {{l|en|foretossed}}
* {{l|en|forseethe}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from neglectfully}}
* {{l|en|forslip}}
* {{l|en|forslug}}
* {{l|en|forslack}}
* {{l|en|forsleep}}
* {{l|en|forhold}}
* {{l|en|forget}}
* {{l|en|forhow}}
* {{l|en|forslow}}
* {{l|en|forsake}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from very}}
* {{l|en|forblack}}
* {{l|en|forswollen}}
* {{l|en|forold}}
* {{l|en|forspent}}
* {{l|en|forfaint}}
* {{l|en|forhungered}}
* {{l|en|forridden}}
* {{l|en|forweary}}
* {{l|en|fordry}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from making}}
* {{l|en|fordote}}
* {{l|en|forguilt}}
* {{l|en|forshame}}
* {{l|en|fordrench}}
* {{l|en|fordull}}
* {{l|en|forharden}}
* {{l|en|forset}}
* {{l|en|forshame}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from excessively}}
* {{l|en|forwax}}
* {{l|en|forgrow}}
* {{l|en|forhare}}
* {{l|en|forwalk}}
* {{l|en|forwound}}
* {{l|en|forwaste}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from excluding}}
* {{l|en|forjudge}}
* {{l|en|forshut}}
* {{l|en|forbar}}
* {{l|en|forbid}}
* {{l|en|forsay}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from intensively}}
* {{l|en|fordread}}
* {{l|en|forlay}}
* {{l|en|fordread}}
* {{l|en|forpass}}
{{rel-bottom}}
{{rel-top|terms derived from thoroughly}}
* {{l|en|forgrow}}
* {{l|en|forbathe}}
* {{l|en|forseek}}
* {{l|en|forwrap}}
{{rel-bottom}}

====References====
{{R:OED Online}}

===Etymology 2===
From {{inh|en|ang|for-}}, which is identical with the preposition "{{m|en|for}}". In "Old English and Middle English it occurs frequently as a variant of {{m|en|fore-}} prefix, with the senses ‘before’, ‘in front’, ‘on behalf of’, etc.; cf. Old English for-, forecuman to come before, Middle English forganger and foreganger n."<ref name="oed-for2">Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “for- (prefix2),” March 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1183476270.</ref>

====Prefix====
{{en-prefix}}
# {{senseid|en|before}} {{alt form|en|fore-|id=before}}.
#: {{uxi|en|[[forstand|'''for'''stand]]}} is to stand in front of so as to bar the way, {{uxi|en|[[fordede|'''for'''dede]]}} is a deed done for another, {{uxi|en|[[forlead|'''for'''lead]]}} is alternative form of forelead (“lead forward, lead before”)

===Etymology 3===
"Occurring only in words adopted from French, as forcatch v., forfeit n., forprise n., represents Old French for-, fors-, identical with fors adv. (modern French hors) outside, out."<ref name="oed-for3">Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “for- (prefix3),” September 2023, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/8923913950.</ref>

====Alternative forms====
* {{l|en|fore-|id=out}}

====Prefix====
{{en-prefix}}
# {{senseid|en|out}} {{lb|en|rare}} Outside, out.
#: {{uxi|en|[[foreclose|'''fore'''close]]}} is to shut out, {{uxi|en|[[forcatch|'''for'''prise]]}} is an exception or reservation,<ref name="oed-for3"/> {{uxi|en|[[forfeit|'''for'''feit]]}} is that which is taken from somebody in requital of a misdeed committed

====References====
<references/>

===See also===
* {{l|en|fore-}}

===Anagrams===
* {{anagrams|en|a=for|'fro|ORF|fro|orf}}

{{catlangname|en|unproductive prefixes}}

==Danish==

===Etymology===
From {{inh|da|non|for-}}, from {{inh|da|gem-pro|*fra-}}.

===Prefix===
{{da-prefix}}

# {{ng|Makes verbs from adjectives meaning "to cause to be [adjective]".}}
#: {{prefixusex|da|skøn|t1=beautiful|-e|pos2=infinitive suffix|forskønne|t3=beautify}}
#: {{prefixusex|da|sød|t1=sweet|-e|forsøde|t3=sweeten}}
#: {{prefixusex|da|uren|t1=unclean|-e|forurene|t3=pollute}}
# {{ng|Denotes initial or preparatory action; {{m|en|pre-}}.}}
#: {{prefixusex|da|bore|t1=drill|forbore|t2=drill a hole for screwing}}
#: {{prefixusex|da|arbejde|t1=work|forarbejde|t2=preparatory work}}

====Usage notes====
This element appears in a great number of adapted loanwords from German, Low German and Dutch, to render ''ver-'' or ''vor-'', such as in {{m|da|fordærve||to decay, to rot}}. In these cases, it may represent senses that are no longer, or never were, productive in Danish.

====Derived terms====
{{prefixsee|da}}

===Further reading===
* {{R:DDO}}

==Esperanto==

===Etymology===
See {{m|eo|for}}.

===Pronunciation===
{{eo-IPA}}

===Prefix===
{{head|eo|prefix}}

# [[movement|Movement]] to a distance.
#: {{prefixusex|eo|pafi|t1=to shoot|forpafi|t2=to frighten off}}
#: {{prefixusex|eo|veturi|t1=to drive|forveturi|t2=to drive away}}
# [[disappearance|Disappearance]] or [[annihilation]].
#: {{prefixusex|eo|akrigi|t1=to sharpen|forakrigi|t2=to file down}}
#: {{prefixusex|eo|leki|t1=to lick|forleki|t2=to lick off}}

====Derived terms====
{{prefixsee|eo}}

==French==

===Alternative forms===
* {{alt|fr|four-|fre-}}

===Etymology===
{{inh+|fr|frm}}, from {{inh|fr|fro|for-}}, partially from {{inh|fr|LL.|forīs}}, taken as an adaptation of the adverb {{m|la|forīs||outdoors, outside}} and used to calque Frankish words prefixed by {{m|gmw-pro|*fur-||for-}} (compare {{cog|LL.|[[foris]] [[faciō]]|t=to do wrong}} = {{cog|goh|firwirken||to do wrong}}, {{m|la|forisfactus|t=evil deed}} = {{cog|got|𐍆𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌷𐍄𐍃||evil deed}}, {{m|la|[[foris]] [[coⁿsilio]]|t=to mislead}} = {{cog|goh|firleitan||to mislead}}, etc.), and partially continuing from {{der|fr|gem-pro|*fur-}}, {{m|gem-pro|*fer-}}, {{m|gem-pro|*fra-||away, from, off}}, from {{der|fr|ine-pro|*pro-}}, {{m|ine-pro|*per-}}, {{m|ine-pro|*pr-}}. See {{l|en|for-}}. Related to {{cog|fr|fors||except}}, {{cog|fr|hors||outside}}.

===Pronunciation===
* {{fr-IPA}}

===Prefix===
{{fr-prefix}}

# {{q|nonproductive}} {{n-g|prefix used to express error, exclusion, or inadequacy}}

====Related terms====
{{col4|fr
|forban
|forcené
|forclore
|forclusion
|forfaire
|forfait
|forjeter
|formariage
|formarier
|fourbu
|fourvoiement
|fourvoyer
}}

==Icelandic==

===Etymology===
From {{inh|is|non|for-}}, from {{inh|is|gem-pro|*fra-}}.

===Prefix===
{{head|is|prefix}}

# [[previous]], [[before]], [[first]], [[pre-]]
#: {{syn|is|fyrir-}}
#: {{prefixusex|is|síða|gloss1=page|forsíða|gloss2=front page}}
# {{lb|is|emphatic}} [[extremely]]
# [[negative]] [[meaning]]

====Derived terms====
{{prefixsee|is}}
{{der3|is|title=Terms derived from ''for-'' meaning “before”|forstjóri|formaður|forsjáll}}
{{der3|is|title=Terms derived from ''for-'' used emphatically|fordjúpur|forljótur}}
{{der3|is|title=Terms derived from ''for-'' used to imbue a negative meaning|forbjóða|forbænir}}

==Irish==

===Alternative forms===
* {{alter|ga|ur-}}

===Etymology===
From {{inh|ga|cel-pro|*uɸor-}}.

===Prefix===
{{head|ga|prefix}}

# [[over]], [[superior]], [[super-]]
# [[outer]], [[external]]
# [[great]], [[extreme]]

====Derived terms====
{{prefixsee|ga}}

===Mutation===
{{ga-mut}}

===Further reading===
* {{R:ga:Ó Dónaill}}

==Middle English==

===Alternative forms===
* {{alter|enm|far-|fer-|vor-|ver-}}

===Etymology===
From {{inh|enm|ang|for-}}, from {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*fra-}}, from {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*fra-}}, from {{inh|enm|ine-pro|*pro-}}.

The Old English prefix was reinforced by {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*furi-}}, from {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*furi-}}; In Middle English, this prefix is further reinforced by {{der|enm|fro|for-}}, from {{der|enm|la|foris}}.

===Pronunciation===
* {{IPA|enm|/fɔr-/}}

===Prefix===
{{head|enm|prefix}}

# {{non-gloss|Forms verbs meaning "far", "out" or with an intensive sense}}; {{l|en|for-}}.
# {{non-gloss|Forms verbs denoting a failure or error}}; {{l|en|for-}}.
# {{lb|enm|no longer productive}} {{non-gloss|Forms nouns with varying sense}}.

====Derived terms====
{{prefixsee|enm}}

====Descendants====
* {{desc|en|for-}}
* {{desc|sco|for-}}

====References====
* {{R:MED Online|for-|pref.(1)|MED16647}}
* {{R:MED Online|for-|pref.(2)|MED16648}}

==Norwegian Bokmål==

===Prefix===
{{head|nb|prefixes}}

# [[previous]], [[before]], [[first]], [[pre-]]
#: {{prefixusex|nb|side|t1=page|forside|alt2='''for'''side|t2='''front''' page}}
# {{lb|nb|emphatic}} [[extremely]]
# [[negative]] [[meaning]]

====Synonyms====
* {{sense|before}} {{l|nb|fore-}}

====Derived terms====
{{prefixsee|nb}}

{{col3|nb|title=Terms derived from ''for-'' meaning “before”
|forstyrre
|formann
|forskjell
}}

{{col3|nb|title=Terms derived from ''for-'' used emphatically
|fordype
}}

{{col3|nb|title=Terms derived from ''for-'' used to imbue a negative meaning
|forby
|forbanne
}}

==Old English==

===Alternative forms===
* {{alter|ang|fer-|fær-|fier-}}

===Etymology===
{{dercat|ang|ine-pro|inh=2}}
From {{inh|ang|gmw-pro|*fra-}}.

{{rel-top|Cognates}}
Cognate with {{cog|ofs|for-}}, {{cog|osx|far-}}, {{m|osx|for-}}, {{cog|nl|ver-}}, {{cog|goh|fir-}}, {{m|goh|far-}} ({{cog|de|ver-}}), and, outside Germanic, with {{cog|grc|περί}}, {{cog|la|per-}}, {{cog|cu|пре-}} ({{cog|ru|пе́ре-}}). {{rel-bottom}}

===Pronunciation===
* {{ang-IPA|for-}}

===Prefix===
{{ang-prefix}}

# [[wrongly]], [[away]] [[from]], [[astray]], [[abstention]], [[prohibition]], [[perversion]], [[destruction]] {{i|verbal prefix}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forwyrċan]]|to do wrong, sin}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forstandan]]|to defend, protect, stand for}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forweorpan]]|to throw away, cast away, reject}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forstelan]]|to steal away, deprive}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[fordēman]]|to condemn}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forlǣdan]]|to mislead; seduce}}
# {{n-g|used to create intensified adjectives and verbs from other adjectives and verbs, with the sense of completely or fully; compare Modern English use of {{m|en|up}}}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forblāwan]]|to blow up, inflate}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forbrecan]]|to break up, break into pieces}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forstoppian]]|to stop up, block, occlude}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forworen]]|decayed, decrepit}}
# [[very]]
#: {{uxi|ang|[[forlȳtel]]|very little}}
#: {{uxi|ang|[[foreald]]|very old}}

====Usage notes====
* This prefix was almost always unstressed, in both nouns and verbs.

====Derived terms====
{{prefixsee|ang}}

====Descendants====
* {{desctree|enm|for-}}

==Old Irish==

===Etymology===
From {{inh|sga|cel-pro|*uɸor-}}. Prefix form of {{m|sga|for}}.

===Prefix===
{{head|sga|prefix}}

# [[over-]]

====Derived terms====
{{prefixsee|sga}}

==Old Saxon==

===Prefix===
{{head|osx|prefix}}

# {{alternative form of|osx|far-}}