English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

foreword

noun

A short piece at the start of a book, often written by someone other than the author, that introduces the work.

forfare

verb

To fall into ruin or die.

forfeit

verb

To lose or give up something as a penalty for breaking a rule or agreement.

forfeits

noun

A game where players who lose must pay a penalty.

forfeiture

noun

The act of losing property or a right as a legal penalty.

forfend

verb

To stop something bad from happening, or to forbid it.

forgab

verb

To make fun of someone or spread bad things about them.

forgather

verb

To meet or come together with other people in one place.

forge

noun

A furnace or workshop where metal is heated and shaped.

forged

adj

Fake or falsified, as with a document or signature.

forger

noun

A person who fakes documents, signatures, or currency.

forgery

noun

The crime of faking a document, signature, or artwork to deceive people.

forget

verb

To fail to remember something.

forgetful

adj

Tending to forget things easily.

forgetfulness

noun

The tendency or state of forgetting things.

forgetness

noun

The state of forgetting things, or of being unable to remember.

forgettable

adj

Not memorable or special enough to be remembered.

forgetting

noun

The mental process of losing a memory.

forging

noun

The process of shaping metal by heating and hammering it.

forgivable

adj

Capable of being forgiven; deserving forgiveness.

forgive

verb

To stop feeling angry at someone and let go of blame for what they did.

forgiveness

noun

The act of no longer being angry at someone for a wrong they did.

forgiving

adj

Willing and ready to forgive.

forgo

verb

To choose to go without something, even though you could have it.

forgotten

adj

No longer remembered.

fork

noun

A pronged utensil used for eating or serving food.

forked

adj

Divided into two or more branches or points.

forking

adj

Divided into branches, or bent and twisting.

forklift

noun

A small vehicle with two prongs at the front used to lift and move heavy loads.

forlet

verb

To leave something or someone completely and not go back.

forlorn

adj

Sad and lonely, especially from feeling abandoned.

forlornness

noun

A feeling of being sad and alone.

form

noun

The shape or visible structure of something.

formal

adj

Following official or established rules and conventions.

formaldehyde

noun

A colorless gas with a strong smell, used in embalming fluid, disinfectants, and manufacturing.

formalist

noun

Someone who is very strict about following the usual rules and manners.

formality

noun

A required official procedure, often just a routine step.

formalize

verb

To give something a clear and fixed shape.

formally

adv

In an official or proper way.

Forman

name

A surname, a variant spelling of Foreman, historically denoting an overseer of workers.

format

noun

The way something is laid out or presented — its structure, style, or arrangement.

formation

noun

The process of coming together or taking shape.

formative

adj

Having a strong influence on how someone or something develops.

formed

verb

Past tense and past participle of form: brought into existence, made, or arranged into a particular shape or structure.

former

adj

Existing or happening before now; previous.

formerly

adv

At an earlier time; previously.

formica

noun

A hard, heat-resistant laminate used to cover kitchen counters and furniture surfaces.

formicary

noun

A nest of ants, often a mound of earth where they live.

formidability

noun

The quality of being impressive or slightly frightening because of great strength or skill.

formidable

adj

Impressively strong, capable, or intimidating.

forming

noun

The process of taking shape or being created.

formless

adj

Having no clear shape.

formosa

name

Another name for Taiwan, an island in East Asia.

formula

noun

A rule in mathematics that is written using symbols rather than words.

formulate

verb

To develop and express an idea, plan, or statement clearly and precisely.

formulation

noun

The act of working something out and putting it into a fixed form, or the result of doing so.

formulative

adj

Used for working something out or putting it into a clear form.

fornicate

verb

To have sexual intercourse, especially outside marriage.

fornicating

verb

Present participle of "fornicate" — having sexual intercourse, typically outside marriage; also used loosely and crudely as a generic intensifier in place of a stronger swear word.

fornication

noun

Sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each other.

fornicator

noun

A person who is not married but has sex, especially when this is seen as wrong.

fornicatress

noun

A woman who is not married but has sex, especially when this is seen as wrong.

forpass

verb

To pass by or go across something, often without being noticed.

forrader

adv

A pronunciation spelling of forwarder.

Forrest

name

A masculine given name and surname, a variant spelling of Forest.

Forrester

name

An English surname, an occupational name for a forest keeper or gamekeeper.

forsake

verb

To abandon or give up someone or something, often permanently.

forsaken

adj

Left alone and abandoned; deserted.

forsaking

noun

The act of abandoning or giving up someone or something.

forsay

verb

To forbid something, or to give it up.

forshape

verb

To change something completely into a new shape or form.

forslow

verb

To delay something, put it off, or neglect to do it.

forsooth

adv

An old word meaning 'indeed' or 'really', now mostly used as a joke.

forspeak

verb

To bring someone bad luck by praising them too much.

Forster

name

An English surname, a variant spelling of Forrester or Foster.

forswart

verb

To turn dark, especially from being out in the sun.

forswear

verb

To promise formally to give something up or say it is not true.

Forsyte

name

A surname, notably the fictional family name in John Galsworthy's "The Forsyte Saga."

Forsyth

name

A Scottish surname and place name.

Forsythe

name

A surname, a variant spelling of Forsyth.

fort

noun

A strong structure built to defend a place, usually staffed with troops.

forte

noun

Something a person is especially good at; a strong point.

Fortescue

name

An English surname of Norman origin, meaning "strong shield."

forth

adv

Forward, onward, or into view.

forthbring

verb

To produce something or bring it into being.

forthcoming

adj

About to happen or be released soon.

forthink

verb

To make someone feel upset or sorry about something.

forthputting

noun

The act of producing or bringing something out.

forthright

adj

Direct and honest in speech; not evasive.

forthrightness

noun

The quality of being honest and direct in what you say.

forthwith

adv

Immediately, without any delay.

forthy

adv

Used to say this is the reason for something; therefore.

forties

noun

The years of a decade numbered in the 40s, such as the 1940s.

fortieth

adjective

Coming after thirty-nine others in a sequence, the ordinal form of forty.

fortification

noun

A wall, tower, ditch or other structure built to defend a place against attack.

fortified

adj

Made stronger against attack, especially with walls or defenses.

fortify

verb

To strengthen a place against attack, usually with walls or defenses.

fortifying

noun

The process of making something stronger or more secure.

fortissimo

adv

A musical instruction telling a player to perform a passage very loudly.

fortitude

noun

Mental strength that helps someone face hardship or danger with courage.

fortitudinous

adj

Showing strength of mind when facing difficulty; brave.

fortnight

noun

A period of two weeks.

fortnightly

adj

Happening once every two weeks.

fortress

noun

A large, heavily defended building or town built to withstand attack.

fortuitous

adj

Happening by chance, especially in a lucky or fortunate way.

fortuitously

adv

By chance, without being planned or expected.

fortuity

noun

The quality of happening purely by chance.

Fortuna

name

The Roman goddess of fortune and luck; also used as a given name and place name.

fortunate

adj

Having good luck; favored by fortunate circumstances.

fortunately

adv

Used to introduce a piece of good luck.

fortune

noun

A very large amount of money or wealth.

fortuneless

adj

Having no money or wealth.

forty

num

The number after thirty-nine and before forty-one; 40.

forum

noun

A place, meeting, or event set up for open discussion of a topic.

forward

adj

Located at or moving toward the front.

forwarding

noun

The act of sending mail, messages, or goods on to their next destination.

forwardness

noun

The state or quality of being forward in manner.

forwards

adv

Toward the front, or ahead in time or progress — used the same way as "forward".

forwhy

conj

Used to give the reason for something; because. (archaic)

forwork

verb

To lose a right or possession through your own actions, or bring ruin on yourself this way. (archaic)

foss

noun

A waterfall (used especially in place names and dialect, particularly in northern England).

Fosse

name

A surname, notably that of choreographer and director Bob Fosse.

fossil

noun

The preserved remains or traces of an ancient plant or animal, usually turned to stone over time.

fossilized

adj

Turned into a fossil; preserved in rock over a very long time.

foster

verb

To raise or care for a child who is not biologically one's own.

fosterage

noun

The practice of bringing up someone else's child as your own.

fostering

noun

The practice of raising a child who is not one's biological offspring.

fou

adj

Drunk (a Scots dialect word).

Foucault

name

A French surname, notably borne by the physicist Léon Foucault and the philosopher Michel Foucault.

Fought

verb

Past tense and past participle of "fight."

foul

adj

Dirty, disgusting, or unpleasant, especially in smell or taste.

fouling

noun

A build-up of unwanted material stuck to a surface, which stops it working properly.

foulness

name

The name of an island off the east coast of Essex, at the point where the Thames estuary meets the North Sea.

foumart

noun

A European polecat, a small wild animal related to the weasel.

found

verb

Past tense and past participle of "find."

found out

verb

Past tense and past participle of find out: learned or discovered something previously unknown.

foundation

noun

The solid base that supports a building or structure.

foundational

adj

Relating to the base or foundation of something.

founded

adj

Having a solid basis or justification.

founder

noun

A person who establishes an organization, company, or institution.

founding

noun

The act of establishing something, such as an organization or nation.

foundling

noun

An abandoned baby or child found and cared for by someone other than its parents.

foundry

noun

A factory where metal is melted and poured into molds to make products.

fount

noun

A natural spring where water rises from the ground. (literary)

fountain

noun

A structure that shoots or sprays water, often as a decoration in a public space.

four

num

The number 4, one more than three.

Fournier

name

A French surname.

fourpence

noun

A sum of money equal to four old pence.

fours

noun

A group or set of four things, or a position on hands and knees.

foursome

noun

A group of four people, especially as a team or in a game like golf.