Dictionary

forsleep en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English forslepen, equivalent to for- + sleep. Cognate with West Frisian forsliepe (“to forsleep”), Dutch verslapen (“to sleep off, sleep away”), German verschlafen (“to sleep away, oversleep”).

Meanings

1. (archaic, intransitive) To be overcome with sleep.
2. (archaic, transitive) To neglect through sleep or by sleeping; sleep through; oversleep; sleep off.
   • At this moment, Giulietta, who had already forslept and digested the virtue of the potion, awoke and feeling herself kissed, misdoubted her that the friar, being come to take her up and carry her to his chamber, [...] 1890, Matteo Bandello, The novels of Matteo Bandello: bishop of Agen:

Forms