forbade
Definition
- Verb (past tense of ):
- To command someone not to do something: "forbade" is the simple past tense of the verb "forbid," meaning to order or prohibit an action, often with authority or strictness.
- To prevent or make impossible: In a broader sense, it can mean to make something unattainable or to deny permission.
Usage Examples
- (She commanded them not to play there.)
- (The law prohibited such sales.)
- (His injury made participation impossible.)
Advanced Usage
- "forbade entry": to prohibit someone from entering a place.
- The guard forbade entry to anyone without a ticket. (The guard denied access.)
- "forbade mention": to prohibit discussion or reference to a topic.
- The teacher forbade mention of the test results until Friday. (The teacher prohibited discussion.)
Variants and Related Words
- Forbid (verb, base form): to prohibit or disallow.
- I forbid you to go there alone. (I command you not to go.)
- Forbidden (adjective): not allowed; prohibited.
- The fruit was forbidden in the garden. (It was not permitted.)
- Forbidding (adjective): unfriendly or threatening in appearance; also, prohibitive.
- The castle had a forbidding look. (It appeared intimidating.)
Synonyms
- Prohibited: officially or legally disallowed.
- Banned: formally forbidden, often by rule or law.
- Outlawed: made illegal or unacceptable.
- Barred: prevented from entering or doing something.
Related Idioms
- "Heaven forbid!": an exclamation expressing a strong hope that something will not happen.
- Heaven forbid that we should ever face such a disaster! (May it never happen.)
- "Forbid it, Heaven!": a formal or poetic way of saying "may it not be allowed."
- Forbid it, Heaven, that I should betray my friend! (Let it not be so.)