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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Forfar(e, Forfair, v. Also: forfayr, -faire. P.t. forfure. P.p. forfarn(e, -fairn(e. [ME. forfare(n, OE. forfaran.]

1. intr. To go amiss; to come to nought; to decay or perish.(a) 1375 Barb. x. 529.
It wes his entencioune Till put him in-to auenture, Or at that sege [on] him forfure a1400 Leg. S. i. 74.
Thai had nocht hard of Cristis layre, But erare in poynte war to forfare c1475 Wall. x. 521.
Quhill I may lest, this realme sall nocht forfar 15.. Dunb. App. vii. 12.
Neuer sall I me revenge na wreke, Bot on myself, althogh I suld forfare a1568 Bann. MS. 220 a/7.
For ȝour lufe quhy wald ȝe I forfure(b) 1375 Barb. i. 478 (E).
Thys lord the Brwys … Saw all the kynryk swa forfayr a1568 Bann. MS. 79 a/39.
Speid thé, thairfoir, in dreid we all forfair 1549 Compl. 65/3.
Mastres fayr, ȝe vil forfayr a1568 Scott xx. 23.
Howbeid thow suld forfair, Thy self the caus hes bene a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xcviii. 4.
This realme is liklie to forfair Throw ȝour grit necgligence

2. tr. To undo, destroy, bring to ruin. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 242.
He … can say, That he wist nocht of that barn, But hopyt wele it was forfarn Ib. 256. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2233.
The oxin wes … ȝoung, and licht, And for fersnes thay couth the fur forfair a1500 Seven S. 2065.
That all that sorow … Suld fall apon the pyotis crovne, With pik and ter that hir forfure c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxi. 14.
He that … is forfairn with the fleis of Spenȝie 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1154.
This nicht ȝe sall forfair ane pair of stocks a1585 Polwart Flyt. 42 (T).
Mak obedience in tyme, for feir that I forfair thé 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 39.
Gif ane woman being heretrice of landis … happins to abuse and forfar her bodie (be fornication)