English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English forlesen, from Old English forlēosan (to lose, abandon, let go, destroy, ruin), from Proto-Germanic *fraleusaną. Equivalent to for- +‎ lese. Cognate with Scots forlore (to lose), Dutch verliezen (to lose), German verlieren (to lose), Swedish förlisa (to be lost), Swedish förlora (to lose).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /fɔːˈliːz/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -iːz

Verb edit

forlese (third-person singular simple present forleses, present participle forlesing, simple past forlore, past participle forlorn)

  1. (transitive, obsolete) To abandon, forsake.

Usage notes edit

Survives in the derived participle adjective forlorn.

References edit