forego Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb be earlier in time; go back further
antecede; predate; forgo; antedate; precede.
- Stone tools precede bronze tools
verb do without or cease to hold or adhere to
relinquish; foreswear; waive; forgo; dispense with.
- We are dispensing with formalities
- relinquish the old ideas
verb lose (s.th.) or lose the right to (s.th.) by some error, offense, or crime
throw overboard; forfeit; waive; forgo; give up.
- you've forfeited your right to name your successor
- forfeited property

See Forgo.

imperfect Forewent 2; past participle Foregone present participle & verbal noun Foregoing

To quit; to relinquish; to leave.
Stay at the third cup, or forego the place. Herbert.
To relinquish the enjoyment or advantage of; to give up; to resign; to renounce; -- said of a thing already enjoyed, or of one within reach, or anticipated.
All my patrimony,, If need be, I am ready to forego. Milton.

Thy lovers must their promised heaven forego. Keble.

[He] never forewent an opportunity of honest profit. R. L. Stevenson.
✍ Forgo is the better spelling etymologically, but the word has been confused with Forego, to go before.

AS. foregan; fore + gan to go; akin to G. vorgehen to go before, precede. See GO, v. i.

To go before; to precede; -- used especially in the present and past participles.
Pleasing remembrance of a thought foregone. Wordsworth.

For which the very mother's face forewent The mother's special patience. Mrs. Browning.