Forsake, v. t. [imp. Forsook; p. p. Forsaken; p. pr. & vb. n. Forsaking.]
Etymology: [AS. forsacan to oppose, refuse; for- + sacan to contend, strive; akin to Goth. sakan. See For-, and Sake.]
1. To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart or withdraw from; to leave; as, false friends and flatterers forsake us in adversity. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments. Ps. lxxxix. 30.
2. To renounce; to reject; to refuse. If you forsake the offer of their love. Shak.
Syn. -- To abandon; quit; desert; fail; relinquish; give up; renounce; reject. See Abandon.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for forsake; he lists it under abandon.
Where he writes about it:
Abandon implies previous association with responsibility for or control of; forsake implies previous association with inclination or attachment, real or assumed; a man may abandon or forsake house or friends; he abandons an enterprise; forsakes God. — from abandon
Forsake, like abandon, may be used either in the favorable or unfavorable sense; desert is always unfavorable, involving a breach of duty, except when used of mere localities; as, "the Deserted Village." While a monarch abdicates, a president or other elected or appointed officer resigns. — from abandon