for-是英语古已有之的前缀，原意是forth。在古英语中，它曾是相当活跃的动词性词缀。可是，现在由for-构成的常见的派生词不多，for-的含义也不大明显。大体上说，for-只与英语单词结合， 主要表示away的意思。下面举几个常用的词例，请注意for-在构词中的含义。

forbear [ for- = away 离;bear v .忍受=>“bear away from sth.忍受与某物相离”→]v . keep from doing; hold back避免;克制/I forbore telling her the truth because I knew it would upset her. 我克制自己没将实情告诉她，我知道那会使她不安的。

forbearance n .忍耐，克制

forbid [for- = away 离；bid v. 命令=>“to command sb. away from sth. 命令某人与某事相离”→]v. not allow; prohibit; ban 不许；禁止/ The teacher forbade us to leave our seats.老师不许我们离开座位。

forbidding a. 可怕的，令人生畏的

forget [ for- = away 离；get v. 变得=>“to get away from the mind 离开心中 ”→]v. let go out of the mind; fail to remember 忘，忘记 / He forgot the poem which he had memorized.他忘了原先记住的那首诗。

forgetful a. 健忘的；疏忽的 

forgettable a. 易被忘记的；可以忘记的

forgive [ for- = away 离;give v. 给予=>“to give away (a punishment) 放弃惩罚”→]v. give up the wish to punish; pardon 宽恕；原谅 / She forgave her brother for breaking her doll. 她原谅她弟弟弄坏了她的玩具娃娃。

forgiveness n. 饶怒，宽恕 

forgiving a. 宽大的，仁慈的

forswear [ for- = away 离; swear v. 发誓→“swear away from doing sth.发誓不干某事”→]v. swear to give up发誓摈弃/ The coach asked the team to forswear smoking. 教练要求全队立誓戒烟。