v. t. [ imp. Forsook p. p. Forsaken p. pr. & vb. n. Forsaking. ] [ AS. forsacan to oppose, refuse; for- + sacan to contend, strive; akin to Goth. sakan. See For-, and Sake. ] 1. To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart or withdraw from; to leave; as, false friends and flatterers forsake us in adversity. [ 1913 Webster ]

If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments. Ps. lxxxix. 30. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To renounce; to reject; to refuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

If you forsake the offer of their love. Shak.

Syn. -- To abandon; quit; desert; fail; relinquish; give up; renounce; reject. See Abandon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who forsakes or deserts. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ AS. forsecgan to accuse; pref. for- + secgan to say. ] To forbid; to renounce; to forsake; to deny. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. for- + shape, v.t. ] To render misshapen. [ Obs. ] Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. for- + slack to neglect. ] To neglect by idleness; to delay or to waste by sloth. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See For-, and Slouth. ] To lose by sloth or negligence. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. for- + slow. ] To delay; to hinder; to neglect; to put off. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To loiter. [ Obs. ] [ Also spelled foreslow. ]Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Slug to be idle. ] To lsoe by idleness or slotch. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ AS. forsōð; for, prep. + sōð sooth, truth. See For, prep., and Sooth. ] In truth; in fact; certainly; very well; -- formerly used as an expression of deference or respect, especially to woman; now used ironically or contemptuously. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fit man, forsooth, to govern a realm! Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our old English word forsooth has been changed for the French madam. Guardian. [ 1913 Webster ]