▪ I. † forˈthink, v. Obs.
Forms: see think. Also 4–6 forethink.
[repr. two distinct words: αOE. forðęncan (f. for- prefix1 + ðęncan to think) = OHG. fordenchen (Ger. verdenken). βf. for- prefix1 + OE. þyncan to seem. Cf. MHG. verdunken and ON. forþykkja to displease.]
I. Senses from OE. ðyncan.
1. trans. To displease, cause regret to.
| a 1225 Juliana 16 Ne ich ne seh him neuer þat me sare forþuncheð. c 1325 Metr. Hom. (Small) xvi, To king William bodword was broht Of this tithing, that him for thoht. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 1365 (1414), I nas, ne nevere to be I thenke, Ayens a thing that myght the forthenke. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 6446 If..it had you forthoght, Ye might [etc.]. c 1530 Adam Bel 548 in Hazl. E.P.P. II. 161, I hav y-graunted them graces, And that forthynketh me. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (1858) I. 200 Full sair for⁓thinkis me, The greit injuris..Done to my sister. |
2. impers. and quasi-impers. (it) forthinks (me, him, etc.): I, etc., feel regret, repent, or am sorry. Const. of, for, or that, with dependent clause.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2732 If sco did it hir for-thoght. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 285 Me forthynkez ful much þat euer I mon made. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xxi. 92 Sore hit me for⁓þynkeþ Of þe dede þat ich haue don. c 1420 Sir Amadace (Camd.) xviii, For his dedus him sore for-thoȝte. 1548 Udall Erasm. Par. Luke xxiv. 46 The Lorde hath sworne and it shall not forthynke hym. 1578–1600 Scot. Poems 16th C. (1801) II. 166 Baneist is faith now euery quhair And sair forthinkes me. 1588 A. King tr Canisius' Catech., Confession 12 It forthinkes me sore that I haue sinned. |
II. Senses from OE. ðęncan.
3. a. trans. To despise or neglect. OE. only. b. intr. To be reluctant.
| c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) xlviii. Argt., He lærde þæt þa ðearfan hy ne forðohton. a 1300 Cursor M. 16427 Pilate forthoght þam..to wrath. |
4. trans. To think upon with pain; to regret, repent of, be sorry for; rarely passive.
| ? a 1250 Ags. Poem clxxvi. in Hickes Thes. (1705) I. 224 Se þæt mai and nele ðeder come, Sore hit sel uorðenche. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 557 Þe souerayn in sete so sore for-þoȝt Þat euer he man vpon molde merked to lyuy. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Johannes 445 He..þane sa fore-thocht his mysded Þat he gret sare. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. v. xii. 1310 Wyth Rewth of Hart for-thynk youre syn. c 1430 How Wise Man taught Son 32 in Babees Bk. (1868) 49 Þou myȝte seie a word to-day Þat .vij. ȝeer after may be for-þouȝt. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xvii. xv, Yf thou entre thou shalt forthynke hit. 1548 W. Patten Exp. Scotl. Pref. in Arb. Garner III. 58 They forthink that inroad. a 1639 Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scotl. ii. (1677) 37 Suddenly forethinking what he had done, he [etc.]. 1704 Min. of Torryburn Sess. in Ess. on Witchcraft (1820) 131 She would make Jean Riȝet forethink what she had done. |
5. refl. To change the direction of one's thoughts; to experience a change of mind or purpose; to repent, be sorry. Const. of, that, or to with inf.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 24786 O þis tiþand he him for-thoght. c 1550 Cheke Matt. xxvii. 3 Joudas..seing y{supt} he was condemned, did forthink himself. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 40 Nor yet you shall forthinke your self, that you haue obeyed..myne aduise. 1589 Warner Alb. Eng., æneidos 156 Wel may I fore think mee so to haue done. 1599 Life Sir T. More in Wordsw. Eccl. Biog. (1853) II. 98 The whole counsell began to forethink them of their forwardness. |
b. intr. for refl. Const. of.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 279 Þe fende shal..ever forþinke. c 1410 Love Bonavent. Mirr. xxii. 48 (Gibbs MS.), I..come to ȝowe..forthynkynge inwardly of þat I haue offendet. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 132 He..then forthinketh, but late is his complaint. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 468 He forthocht full soir Of the grit wrang. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 118 Better foresee, than forthinke. 1578 Whetstone Promos & Cass. ii. v, Forethinke of thy forepassed faultes. |
6. Occasional uses: a. trans. To change one's mind about; to renounce. b. intr. To think or plan something wrong; to conspire.
| 1483 Festivall (W. de W. 1515) 73 b, By temptacyon of the fende they forthought all theyr purpose. 1494 Coll. Hist. Staff. XII. (1891) 334 Sir Humfrey Stanley, with xx persons, forthought ayens your pease and lawis. |
▪ II. forthink
see forethink.