forlætan

From Proto-Germanic *fralētaną, equivalent to for- +‎ lǣtan. Cognate with Old High German firlāzzan, Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌻𐌴𐍄𐌰𐌽 (fralētan). Compare Icelandic forláta (“to forsake”).

• IPA^(key): /forˈlæː.tɑn/

forlǣtan

1. to leave

   Hē forlēt þæt hūs for þrim tīdum.

   He left the house three hours ago.

   • Life of St. Guthlac

     Wilfriþ cwæþ þæt hē forlēte his twā glōfan on þām sċipe.

     Wilfrid said he left his two gloves on the ship.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "St. Benedict, Abbot"

     Gang nū tō mynstre ġif þū mæġe, and mē āna forlǣt.

     Now go to the monastery if you can, and leave me alone.

2. to abandon, desert

   Hwæder wilt þū þæt iċ gā? On forlǣten īeġland?

   Where do you want me to go? To a deserted island?

3. to allow
4. to stop an action
5. to lose something
   • early 12th century, note from a scribe to his apprentice, written on a copy of Pope Gregory's Pastoral Care

     Wrīt þus oþþe bet oþþe þīne hȳd forlǣt.

     Write like this or better or lose your skin.

   • c. 900, Werferth, translation of the Dialogues of Gregory

     Sum mann forlēt his ēagena ġesihte.

     Someone lost his eyesight.

• Middle English: forleten
  • English: forlet
  • Scots: forleet