forburn

forburn

English

Etymology

From Middle English forburnen, forbrinnen, from Old English forbeornan, forbyrnan, forbiernan (“to burn, be consumed by fire”) and forbærnan (“to cause to burn, burn up, consume by fire, be consumed”), equivalent to for- +‎ burn. Cognate with Saterland Frisian ferbaadenje, ferbaanje (“to burn up”), West Frisian ferbarne (“to burn up”), German Low German verbrannen (“to burn up”), German verbrennen (“to burn up, incinerate”).

Verb

forburn (third-person singular simple present forburns, present participle forburning, simple past and past participle forburned)

1. (transitive) To destroy, torture, or injure by burning; burn up; burn down.
   • 1852, Alfred (King of England), The whole works of King Alfred the Great:

     [He] sent then a host thither and bade slay all the town-ship, and forburn the town.

2. (intransitive) To burn; be burnt; be consumed by fire; to be on fire.