forebear

/ˈfɔrbɪr/; /ˈfɔrbɛr/

Definitions

1. noun

a person from whom one is descended; an ancestor

“He learned about his family’s history and the forebears who first settled in America.”

2. verb

to be the ancestor of (something)

“The company will forebear the new technology to improve its products.”

3. verb

to refrain or abstain from doing something

“The government decided to forebear raising taxes for the next year.”

Synonyms

  • ancestor
  • forefather
  • progenitor

Antonyms

  • descendant
  • heir