Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Forbid \For*bid"\, v. t. [imp. {Forbade}; p. p.
   {Forbidden}({Forbid}, [Obs.]); p. pr. & vb. n. {Forbidding}.]
   [OE. forbeden, AS. forbe['o]dan; pref. for- + be['o]dan to
   bid; akin to D. verbieden, G. verbieten, Icel.,
   fyrirbj[=o][eth]a, forbo[eth]a, Sw. f["o]rbjuda, 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.

   5. To defy; to challenge. [Obs.] --L. Andrews.

   Syn: To prohibit; interdict; hinder; preclude; withold;
        restrain; prevent. See {Prohibit}.

Forbid \For*bid"\, v. t. [imp. {Forbade}; p. p.
   {Forbidden}({Forbid}, [Obs.]); p. pr. & vb. n. {Forbidding}.]
   [OE. forbeden, AS. forbe['o]dan; pref. for- + be['o]dan to
   bid; akin to D. verbieden, G. verbieten, Icel.,
   fyrirbj[=o][eth]a, forbo[eth]a, Sw. f["o]rbjuda, 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.

   5. To defy; to challenge. [Obs.] --L. Andrews.

   Syn: To prohibit; interdict; hinder; preclude; withold;
        restrain; prevent. See {Prohibit}.

Forbid \For*bid"\, v. i.
   To utter a prohibition; to prevent; to hinder. ``I did not or
   forbid.'' --Milton.

Source : WordNet®

forbid
     v 1: command against; "I forbid you to call me late at night";
          "Mother vetoed the trip to the chocolate store" [syn: {prohibit},
           {interdict}, {proscribe}, {veto}, {disallow}] [ant: {permit},
           {permit}]
     2: keep from happening or arising; have the effect of
        preventing; "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"
        [syn: {prevent}, {forestall}, {foreclose}, {preclude}]
     [also: {forbidding}, {forbidden}, {forbade}, {forbad}]