20091112Word of the Day

junli

forfend

\for-FEND\ , transitive verb;
also forefend
1.a. (Archaic) To prohibit; to forbid.
b. To ward off; to prevent; to avert.
2.To defend; to protect; to preserve.
及物动词 vt.
1.保卫;防护

Quotes:
The Tory leader sort of wanted to say that the government should deploy the army more rapidly, but -- heaven forfend -- he didn't want to imply that it was anybody's fault that the soldiers hadn't been deployed!
~Simon Hoggart, "A greasy whiff dispels the stench of worthiness", Guardian, March 22, 2001
If one of us is missing, heaven forfend, then the king's forces are diminished.
~Leon Wieseltier, Kaddish
The river of discovery will continue to flow without cessation, deepening our understanding of the world and enhancing our capacity to forfend calamity and live congenial lives.
~John Maddox, What Remains To Be Discovered

Origin:
Forfend is from Middle English forfenden, from for-, "for-" + fenden, "to ward off."