forego
pronunciation
How to pronounce forego in British English:
UK [fɔ:ˈɡəu]
How to pronounce forego in American English:
US [fɔrˈɡo, for-]
-
- Verb:
- be earlier in time; go back further
Word Origin
- forego (v.)
- "to go before," Old English foregan "to go before," from fore- + go (v.). Related: Foregoer, foregoing; foregone. Similar formation in Dutch voorgaan, German vorgehen, Danish foregaa. Phrase foregone conclusion echoes "Othello" [III.iii], but Shakespeare's sense was not necessarily the main modern one of "a decision already formed before the case is argued." Othello says it of Cassio's dream, and it is clear from the context that Othello means Cassio actually has been in bed with Desdemona before he allegedly dreamed it (the suspicion Iago is nourishing in him).
Example
- 1. He meant that it should forego quick gains for enduring profits .
- 2. The willingness of many jobless americans to forego unemployment checks isn 't new .
- 3. Just don 't be surprised if they decide to forego the office altogether .
- 4. You may have to forego a vacation or work 12-hour days to complete an important project .
- 5. Buildings close at a reasonable hour , obliging salarymen to forego hours of masochistic overtime .