online medical dictionary | definition of forget

1. To lose the remembrance of; to let go from the memory; to cease to have in mind; not to think of; also, to lose the power of; to cease from doing. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." (Ps. Ciii. 2) "Let y right hand forget her cunning." (Ps. Cxxxvii. 5) "Hath thy knee forget to bow?" (Shak)

2. To treat with inattention or disregard; to slight; to neglect. "Can a woman forget her sucking child? . . . Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." (Is. Xlix. 15) To forget one's self. To become unmindful of one's own personality; to be lost in thought. To be entirely unselfish. To be guilty of what is unworthy of one; to lose one's dignity, temper, or self-control.

Origin: Forgot (Forgat,); Forgotten, Forgot; Forgetting] [OE. Forgeten, foryeten, AS. Forgietan, forgitan; pref. For- + gietan, gitan (only in comp), to get; cf. D. Vergeten, G. Vergessen, Sw. Forgata, Dan. Forgiette. See For-, and Get.

(01 Mar 1998)