† ˈforto, ˈfort(e, prep. and conj. Obs.
[f. for prep. + to prep.]
A. prep. Till, until; up to, as far as.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 33 Al mankin was wunende on muchele wowe..forte þat ilke time þat [etc.]. a 1225 Ancr. R. 38 ‘Aue Maria’, uort ‘Dominus tecum’. 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 463 Þe kyng..vorto Mydewynter ney byseged þe emperesse. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 4796 That strengthe him last Fort arnemorwe. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 25 Alle þe woke longe, forto Saturday at none. |
b. In conjunctional phrase, fort(e that: until.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 51 Þe king of babilonie bilai þe burh ierusalem, forte þat hit [= he it] wan. c 1275 Lay. 11518 Mauric verde vorþ riht..forte that he come to Maximian. c 1330 King of Tars 396 The mayden..al niht lay and wepe Forte that day gon dawe. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. vii. 2 A gyde, That mihte folwen us vch a fote forte that we come there. c 1450 Two Cookery-bks. 114 Wash hem [peson] clene in cold water, fort that ye holys go of. |
B. conj. Till, until.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 23 For to þe time cam þat he heregede helle. c 1275 Lay. 7563 Alle dai was þat fiht forte hit were dorcke niþt. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 668 No grome louen y no may Fort he be kniȝt. c 1440 Marriage Serv. in Bk. Offices (MS. Hereford Cath. No. 45), Ich ― take the ― to my wedded wife..forte deth us departe. c 1450 Two Cookery-bks. ii. 114 Nym a pond of ris, seth hem fort hit berste. |