First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
forsake
verb for·sake \fər-ˈsāk, fȯr-\
: to give up or leave (someone or something) entirely
for·sook \-ˈsu̇k\ for·sak·en \-ˈsā-kən\ for·sak·ing
Full Definition of FORSAKE
transitive verb
: to renounce or turn away from entirely <friends have forsaken her> <forsook the theater for politics>
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Origin of FORSAKE
Middle English, from Old English forsacan, from for- + sacan to dispute; akin to Old English sacu action at law — more at sake
Synonym Discussion of FORSAKE
abandon, desert, forsake mean to leave without intending to return. abandon suggests that the thing or person left may be helpless without protection <abandoned children>. desert implies that the object left may be weakened but not destroyed by one's absence <a deserted town>. forsake suggests an action more likely to bring impoverishment or bereavement to that which is forsaken than its exposure to physical dangers <a forsaken lover>.
Rhymes with FORSAKE
air brake, awake, backache, beefcake, beefsteak, betake, blacksnake, bull snake, canebrake, caretake, cheesecake, cheesesteak, clambake, club steak, corncrake, cube steak, cupcake, daybreak, disc brake, drum brake, earache, earthquake, fair shake, fast break, firebreak, firedrake, fish cake, flank steak, friedcake, fruitcake, green snake, grubstake, hand brake, handshake, headache, heartache, heartbreak, hoecake, hotcake, housebreak, intake, jailbreak, keepsake, king snake, lapstrake, mandrake, milk snake, mistake, moonquake, muckrake, namesake, newsbreak, oatcake, oil cake, opaque, outbreak, outtake, Pan-Cake, pancake, partake, pound cake, pump fake, rat snake, remake, retake, rewake, rock brake, seaquake, sea snake, seedcake, sheldrake, shortcake, snowflake, sponge cake, Swiss steak, tea cake, toothache, unmake, uptake, wheat cake, windbreak, wind shake, youthquake
FORSAKING Defined for Kids
forsake
verb for·sake \fər-ˈsāk\
for·sook \-ˈsu̇k\for·sak·en \-ˈsā-kən\for·sak·ing
Definition of FORSAKE for Kids
: to give up or leave entirely <Don't forsake your friends.>
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