1. to protect or defend against; to prevent or ward off
Usage: archaic or formal
2. used in the phrase ‘God forfend’ or ‘Heaven forfend’ to express hope that something will not happen
Usage: archaic; exclamatory

Examples

• May Heaven forfend such a terrible outcome.
• God forfend that we should face another crisis like this.
• The ancient ritual was believed to forfend evil spirits.
• She prayed that fate would forfend any harm to her family.
• The old castle’s walls forfend against enemy attacks.
• Heaven forfend we should ever see such destruction again.