Archaic term meaning to neglect, abandon, or cease petting or caressing; to stop caring for.
From Old English for- (away, completely) + pet (to caress or care for). The prefix for- gave the sense of undoing or reversing the action, turning affection into neglect.
This word shows how a single prefix could completely reverse a feeling—'pet' meant to show affection, but 'forpet' meant to stop showing affection, essentially linguistically erasing love.
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