An archaic or dialectal word meaning to bend completely or to bow down entirely.
From Old English 'for-' (completely) + 'bugan' (to bow/bend). The intensive prefix suggests bending or bowing so completely that one is in total submission or profound deference.
The verb 'bow' survives mainly as a nautical term or in the gesture of respect, but 'forbow' shows how it once meant 'bend'—and adding 'for-' made it mean 'bend completely under pressure or respect.'
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