fordo

American  

[fawr-doo] / fɔrˈdu /

verb (used with object)

Archaic.

fordid, fordone, fordoing

1. to do away with; kill; destroy.

2. to ruin; undo.

---

fordo British  

/ fɔːˈduː /

verb

1. to destroy

2. to exhaust

---

Etymology

Origin of fordo

before 900; Middle English fordon, Old English fordōn ( see fore-, do ¹); cognate with Dutch verdoen, Old High German fartuon

Example Sentences

This eventful day, which, to quote Iago, was either to "make or fordo quite" the widow, found her as calm, cool and deliberate in the execution of her purpose as the Ancient himself.

From A Book of Remarkable Criminals by Irving, Henry Brodribb

Full she drad that God the Wreaker all mankind would fordo with water for his evil sins.

From Ulysses by Joyce, James

Me forthinketh, said King Pellinore, that this shall me betide, but God may fordo well destiny.

From Le Mort d'Arthur: Volume 1 by Malory, Thomas, Sir

So benevolent is God to mankind, that he has set his angels over us as guardians, that they may not allow the fierce devils to fordo us.

From The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of ?lfric, in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version. Volume I. by Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham

Juno, Thus hath your ire our lineage all fordo* *undone, ruined Save only me, and wretched Palamon, That Theseus martyreth in prison.

From The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by Purves, D. Laing