ferforth

Middle English

Alternative forms

• furforth, veruorþ

Etymology

fer +‎ forth

Adverb

ferforth

1. Far, forth; to a (great) degree or extent; advanced.
2. In phrases:

   as ferforth; so ferforth: so far (as); as much or to as great a degree (as)

   1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The [Mannes] Tale [of Lawe]”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 127, verso:

   Alla gooth to his in / and as hẏm oghte
   Araẏed for this feſte / in euerẏ wise
   As ferfoꝛth / as his konnẏng maẏ suffiſe

   All went to his inn, and he, as was his duty, had made preperations for this feast as far as his knowledge was able

   as ferforth as; as ferforth þat: insofar as, to the same degree or extent as.

   1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Parsons Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio cxii, verso, column 2:

   Therefore was soueraynte ordayned to kepe, mayntayne, and defende her underlynges and her subiectes in reason, as ferforth as it lyeth in her power, and not to distroye ne confounde hem

   Therefore was sovereignty ordained: in order to keep, maintain, and defend her underlings and subjects in reason, insofar as it lies in her power, and not to destroy or confound them

   so ferforth þat: to such an extent that

   1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Nonne”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 166, recto:

   Thow maẏde and moder doghter of thẏ sone
   Thow welle of mcẏ / sẏnful soules cure
   In whom that god / foꝛ bontee thees to wone
   Thow humble and heigh ouer euerẏ creature
   Tow noblesest so ferfoꝛth oure nature
   That no deſdaign / the makere hadde of kẏnde
   his sone in blood & fleſſh / to clothe & wẏnde

   Thou maid and mother, daughter of thy son; thou well of mercy, the cure of sinful souls, in whom God, for goodness, chose to dwell; Thou humble and exalted one, exalted over every creature; Thou ennoblest our nature to such a degree that God had no disdain of our kind to clothe and make his son in flesh and blood.

   thus ferforth: so far

Derived terms

• ferforthly

Descendants

• English: farforth