For- \For-\ [AS. for-; akin to D. & G. ver-, OHG. fir-, Icel. for-, Goth. fra-, cf. Skr. par[=a]- away, Gr. ? beside, and E. far, adj. Cf. {Fret} to rub.] A prefix to verbs, having usually the force of a negative or privative. It often implies also loss, detriment, or destruction, and sometimes it is intensive, meaning utterly, quite thoroughly, as in forbathe.