Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for FOR-SAKE
FOR-SAKE, v.t. [pret. forsook; pp. forsaken. Sax. forsacan, forsæcan; for, a negative, and secan, to seek. See Seek. Sw. försaka, Dan. forsager, G. versagen, D. verzaaken, to deny, to renounce. See Seek and Say.]
- To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart from. Friends and flatterers forsake us in adversity. Forsake the foolish, and live. Prov. ix.
- To abandon; to renounce; to reject. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments. Ps. lxxxix. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath- Ps. assail.
- To leave; to withdraw from; to fail. In anger, the color forsakes the cheeks. In severe trials, let not fortitude forsake you.
- In Scripture, God forsakes his people, when he withdraws his aid, or the light of his countenance. Brown.
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