forspeak

English

/fɔːˈspiːk/, /fɔɹˈspik/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To injure or cause bad luck through immoderate praise or flattery; to affect with the curse of an evil tongue, which brings ill luck upon all objects of its praise.
  • (transitive) To bewitch, to charm.
  • (transitive) To forbid, to prohibit; to oppose.
  • (transitive) To say bad things about; to slander.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English forspeken (bewitch) inherited from Old English forspecan prefix from English speak.

Origin

English

speak

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms