forbearance
/fɔːˈbɛərəns/
noun
Origin
English
forbear — to abstain from, refrain, or suffer
Overview
Meaning Now
- Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance shown towards others.
- The action of refraining from the enforcement of something, especially a debt, obligation, or right.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
forberance
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The concept of forbearance has deep roots in both legal and moral philosophy. In legal contexts, it refers to a creditor's agreement not to exercise a legal right (such as foreclosing on a loan), which often serves as valuable consideration for a contract.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*furaberanan
“to carry away, bear off, refrain”
- Old English
forberan
“to abstain, refrain, restrain oneself”
Compound of for- + beran
- Middle English
forberance
“the act of refraining”
Added suffix -ance
- Modern English
forbearance
“patience or restraint of action”
Connections
Word parts
for-
prefix
away or completely
bear
root
to carry or endure
-ance
suffix
denoting an action or state
Related across languages
German
verbaren
to spare or refrain
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Related to forbearance
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.