/forgo/

 

/forgo/ or /forego/

 

Verb.

 

-) Pronunciation and accent: fə-, fɔəgəʊ.

 

-) Etymology: forgo is analyzable in for (prefix with the implication of abstaining from, or neglecting) + GO. Walter Skeat said: “the spelling forego is because of a confusion with foregone.”

-) Preterite tense: forewent, forwent; preterite participle: foregone, forgone.

 

-) Present participle: forgoing.

 

-) It is dated from the end of 900.

Intransitively: to go away; go past. Obsolete acceptation.

Transitively: 1. To abstain from (something possible to do or execute).

 

-) Translation: omitir, in Spanish; omettere, in Italian; omettre, in French.

 

-) Synonyms for forgo: to omit, eschew, forbear. 

-) Antonyms of forgo: to perform, execute.

I therefore forewent my curiosity, and contented myself with jogging on till I got near the rumbling bridge.

Charles Dibdin… Observations on a Tour 1801

A species of squirrel forgoes the common use of its limbs.

The Cabinet, vol. I 1801

They do not understand the art of making soap; and if they did, the process is so laborious, that they would readily forego the use of this article, which they consider of very little value.

Daniel Harmon… The Interior of North America 1820

[…] either the difficulties of executing the office appalled her, or the part which she felt prone to act, was too attractive to be foregone.

Laetitia Hawkins… Heraline 1821

The king of France […] wrote to her [the queen] in terms of such affection and esteem as the circumstances of the time made it expedient to profess […]; he entreated her to forego the resolution she had expressed to Grammont, of never offering advice to her husband, or interfering in state affairs.

Philip Stanhope… Succession in Spain 1832

[…] we cannot forego the pleasure of reporting the names of those who obtained the first prize…

The Farmer's Cabinet, vol. 5

[…] he never forewent his usual caution. 

William Simms… The kinsmen 1854

-) Syntax: with the preposition to + an infinitive:

 

[…] in Bourdeaux he was simply called Monsieur Rosa, whilst in the neighbourhood of his castle he was styled Monsieur le Marquis; a variation of nomenclature that made an incalculable difference in the old gentleman's happiness and self-complacency; and fully compensated for all the advantages he was content to forego to enjoy it.

Catherine Crowe… Adventures of Susan Hopley 1842

2. To abstain from profiting from (something circumstantial). 

The miller, who was a greedy man in his way, and never forewent an opportunity of honest profit, turned the mill-house into a little wayside inn.

Robert Stevenson… The Merry Men 1882

-) Words derived from FORGO: forgoing, forgoer.