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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FORENENT, prep. Also for(e)nen(s)t; foreanent (Sc. 1825 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 26; Bnff. 1895 “N. Roy” Horseman's Word ii.), forninst (Dmf. 1910 R. Quinn Borderland (1933) 37), fornist (Uls. 1948 D. G. Waring Not Quite so Black 40), firnent (Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond B. Bowden (1922) 76). [fər′nɛn(s)t]

1. Opposite (to), in front of, over against, facing (forenenst Arg. 1990s; forenent Sh., Ork., Cai., Ags., Ayr. 2000s). Gen.Sc. Also in n.Eng. and Ir. dial. Phr. to come forenent, to occur to, enter one's head (Cai. 1900 E.D.D.).Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 368:
Within a hut, a shake down on a floor Held Isabella cauld, forenenst the door.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xxvii.:
Like the great King Ahasuerus when he sate upon his royal throne fornent the gate of his house.Ayr. 1821 Galt Ann. Parish xliv.:
When Bonaparte gathered his host fornent the English coast.Ags. 1860 A. Whamond James Tacket xii.:
He saw me howkin' taties fornent our back shop window.Bnff. 1872 W. Philip It 'ill a' Come Richt xii.:
Nae langer nor a fornicht gane, he steed up forenent me on this verra road.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff xvi.:
Lots o' folk . . . took peety on the chap McCosh, and chalked their crosses forenent him.Kcb. 1896 Crockett Grey Man xliii.:
Beiking forever fornent the hottest fires of Satan.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws ii.:
When just forenenst where I stood, she left the shelter of the trees.Ayr. 1901 “G. Douglas” Green Shutters xxi.:
I would rather an ill deil sat forenenst me at the table than parratch in a poke.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. 46:
Gerdi lies ower fornenst Leruk.Ork. 1929 Peace's Ork. Almanac 138:
Whan I tou't lang, I eused tae tak' dem oot an' hing dem ap forenent da bed.Tyr. 1929 “M. Mulcaghey” Ballymulcaghey 31:
When I come forenenst the gap, there was a big white man comin' up the togher.Gsw. 1950 H. W. Pryde McFlannel Family Affairs 98:
Jist a meenit, then, tae Ah shift the steps f'ae forenent the door.m.Sc. 1976 Walter Perrie A Lamentation for the Children (1977) 4:
Tam wad strip on the polisht flair an intae the bath fornent the fire, simmer or winter six days a week. wm.Sc. 1986 Robert McLellan in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 24:
It's deil's wark! Janet Hunter o the Clachan had to staun fornent the Kilmory congregation for three Saubbaths on end for turnin the riddle, ... Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald The Gangan Fuit 43:
Richt on time. An here's a braw wally place for practisin. This loan'll be our brods. Thir haw busses our chyngin chaumer, an we'll dae it the wey we'll dae it fornenst the Duke.

2. As a set-off or counterpoise to, to make up for; in return for, in exchange or payment for (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.).Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 51:
Though mony blessins, sic as thae, Auld Reekie disna want them, Yet less they're wordy gin she hae As mony ills fornent them.Rnf. 1861 J. Barr Poems 69:
A deal of work must stand fornent The sugar and the tea.Lnk. 1885 F. Gordon Pyotshaw 25:
“I cannot advance you so much” . . . “But there's plenty wark fornenst it.”Uls. 1904 Victoria Coll. Mag. 58:
With the aid of the clergyman, the country man at length got his load on his back, . . . and said, by way of thanks: “I'll have to give ye a day's hearing forenenst this.”Edb. 1917 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's iv.19:
But, fornent that, the wey o' the wicked Sklents doon, an' doon to the mirk.Sc. 1939 Sc. Educ. Jnl. (27 Oct.) 1105:
Gie me, forenent this croun, A cockit-bonnet like oor laird.Ags. 1965:
Here's five shillins fornenst the Drive [picnic].

3. In opposition to, in face of, against (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.¹⁰ 1953).Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 57:
Strong an ticht we bigg wir hooses, Taek dem weel fornenst da blast.Sh. 1898 Shet. News (25 June):
Takkin' your aer — a saxern aer, i' your haand, an' kjaempin' fornenst a ranksman.Dundee 2000 Ellie McDonald Pathfinder 11:
My lug is aye til a soun
that's farrer back nor memory
but still hauds aa my being
i the space atween the words
I scrieve fornenst the silence.

†4. Concerning, in regard to. Cf. Anent.Sc. 1709 in J. Watson Choice Coll. ii. iv.:
But we will do you understand What we declare fornent Scotland.Sc.(E) 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms vii.:
Shiggaioun o' David: whilk he sang till the Lord, fornenst the ill tongue o' Cush the Benjamite.

†5. In regard to marriage: to, with (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).Ib.:
“Such a one is to be married.” “Ay! wha fornent?”