For- (). [AS. for-; akin to D. & G. ver-, OHG. fir-, Icel. for-, Goth. fra-, cf. Skr. para- away, Gr. beside, and E. far, adj. Cf. Fret to rub.]
A prefix to verbs, having usually the force of a negative or privative. It often implies also loss, detriment, or destruction, and sometimes it is intensive, meaning utterly, quite thoroughly, as in forbathe.
© Webster 1913.