Forbid, v. t. [imp. Forbade; p. p. Forbidden (Forbid, [Obs.]); p. pr. & vb. n. Forbidding.]
Etymology: [OE. forbeden, AS. forbeódan; pref. for- + beódan to bid; akin to D. verbieden, G. verbieten, Icel., fyrirbjoedha, forboedha, Sw. förbjuda, Dan. forbyde. See Bid, v. t.]
1. To command against, or contrary to; to prohibit; to interdict. More than I have said . . . The leisure and enforcement of the time Forbids to dwell upon. Shak.
2. To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command; to command not to enter. Have I not forbid her my house Shak.
3. To oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command; as, an impassable river forbids the approach of the army. A blaze of glory that forbids the sight. Dryden.
4. To accurse; to blast. [Obs.] He shall live a man forbid. Shak.
2 more senses
5. To defy; to challenge. [Obs.] L. Andrews.
Syn. -- To prohibit; interdict; hinder; preclude; withold; restrain; prevent. See Prohibit.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Forbid, v. i.
To utter a prohibition; to prevent; to hinder. "I did not or forbid." Milton.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for forbid; he lists it under prohibit.
Where he writes about it:
As between forbid and prohibit, forbid is less formal and more personal, prohibit more official and judicial, with the implication of readiness to use such force as may be needed to give effect to the enactment; a parent forbids a child to take part in some game or to associate with certain companions; the slave-trade is now prohibited by the leading nations of the world. — from prohibit