▪ I. † forˈbysen, n. Obs.
[f. for prep. + bysen.]
a. An example, pattern, type. b. An illustration, parable. c. A proverb. d. A token.
| a. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 81 Her of me mei ane forbisne of twa brondes. c 1220 Bestiary 307 Ðe hert haueð kindes two and forbisnes oc al so. c 1320 Cast. Love 980 A forbysne of boxumnes. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xviii. 277 He is a for⁓busne to alle busshopes. |
| b. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 79 God almihti seið an forbisne to his folk in þe halie godspel and seið [etc.]. c 1308 Song Times in Pol. Songs. (Camden) 197 Of thos a vorbisen ic herd telle. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ix. 24 ‘Bi a forebisene’ seide the frere, ‘I schal the feire schewe.’ |
| c. a 1250 Owl & Night. 99 Thar-bi men segget a vorbisne, Dahet habbe that ilke best, That fuleth his owe nest. 1340 Ayenb. 47 Vor ase zayþ þe uorbisne ‘leuedi of uaire diȝtinge is arblast to þe tour.’ |
| d. a 1300 Cursor M. 4593 (Gött.) For þoru þis for-bisin here, Witt þu þar sal be seuen ȝere of plente..in þi kingrike. 1485 Caxton Trevisa's Higden ii. i. (1527) 58 Soo some partes of a mannes bodye be forbyson & bodyng of wondres. |
▪ II. † forˈbysen, v. Obs.
Also 4 (erron.) forbyse.
[f. prec. n.]
1. trans. To furnish (a person) with examples.
| a 1300 [see forbysening vbl. n.] c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 1341 (1390) It nedeth me nought thee longe to forbyse. |
2. To give (something) as an example.
Hence forˈbisned ppl. a.
| c 1220 Bestiary 589 Ðis forbisnede ði[n]g. |