Dictionary

forwork en · VERB

Etymology

From Middle English forwirken, forwerken, forwurchen, from Old English forwyrċan (“to do wrong, sin; ruin, undo, destroy; condemn, convict, curse; forfeit; barricade, obstruct, close up”), from Proto-Germanic *frawurkijaną, equivalent to for- + work. Cognate with Dutch verwerken (“to digest, assimilate, work up, put into action”), German verwirken (“to forfeit”), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽 (frawaurkjan).

Meanings

1. (archaic, transitive) To forfeit (a possession, privilege, etc.); ruin (oneself) by one's own conduct.
2. (archaic, transitive) To obstruct; barricade; block.
   • And Æthelwold sat within the ham, with the men that to him had bowed, and he had forwrought [obstructed] all the gates in, and said that he would either there live or there lie. 1881, Grant Allen, Early Britain:
3. (archaic, transitive) To do wrong to; injure; scathe.
4. (archaic, transitive) To overwork; exhaust with toil.
   • And toiling so, well-nigh forwrought, She prayed full fervently; […] 1889, St. John's College (University of Cambridge), The Eagle:

Forms

Synonyms

yield · close off · injure · overply · tread on · impede · damnify · obstruct · mistreat · scathe · do ill · foul · aggrieve · molest · do harm · forwork · oppress · wound · obturate · abuse · misdo · weigh down · ill-treat · afflict · occlude · damage · plug · pain · forwork · put someone in hospital · interrupt · ill-use · cumber · dere · burn out · overlabour · shoot oneself in the foot · misdo · harm · wound · abuse · grieve · hurt · make mischief · do violence to · run down · persecute · weigh heavy on · bewound · block · vulnerate · maul · hinder · do damage to · choke · do ill · do evil · gunk up · harm · clog · overburden · jam · roadblock · run someone ragged · trample on · overburden · interfere · thwart · seal · hamper · outrage · harrow · barricade · overtax · intervene · scaith · forslow · wet · forslow · annoy · do for · mayhem · stonewall