† forˈgrow, v. Obs. rare exc. in pa. pple. forgrown.
Forms: see grow.
[OE. forgrówan, f. for- prefix1 + grówan: see grow v.]
1. intr. To grow to excess or out of shape. Only in pa. pple. forgrown, overgrown, misshapen.
| a 1000 Riming Poem (Gr.) 46 Brondhord ᵹeblowen breostum in forgrowen. 1399 Sarcastic Verses in Archæol. XXI. 89 Þis is a busch þat is forgrowe. 1543 Grafton Contn. Harding 599 A pylgremes hat..with a long and for⁓growen bearde. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. i. (1593) 14 So foule a Dragon..so monstrously for-growne. 1576 Newton Lemnie's Complex. (1633) 133 Although the party be fat and forgrowne. 1601 Bp. Andrewes Serm. Matt. xxii. 21 (1641) II. 96 The fat and foregrown rammes within our own fold. |
| fig. 1583 Golding Calvin on Deut. clxxxii. 1129 An euill custome is nothing else than an errour forgrowen. |
2. trans. To overgrow, cover with a growth (usually one that is excessive or unsightly).
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 129 Forþi is þis westren for⁓grouwen mid brimbles. 1399 Pol. Poems (Rolls) I. 363 The long gras that is so grene..forgrowen hit hath the fellde. 1494 Fabyan Chron. v. cxx. 97 The towne of Westmynster..that tyme was forgrowen with busshes. a 1535 More Wks. 74 The ground that is al foregrowen with nettels. 1575 Laneham Let. (1871) 14 Hombre Saluagio..forgrone all in moss and Iuy. |
b. In
pa. pple. (of aged persons): Overgrown or covered (with hair). Hence (? or from sense 1), Extremely old.
| c 1430 Lydg. Bochas ix. x. (1554) 201 b, With heere for⁓growen body and visage. c 1440 Generydes 3667 A man that was right ferr in age..And all for growe. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 605 In the bordour of this dilicious place..Stode ii. forgrowen faders, reasemblyng Ennok and Hely. 1527 Prose Life St. Brandan (Percy) 52 He was olde and for-growen so that no man myght se his body. |