forswallow

Meaning

Verb

• To swallow up; devour utterly; engulf.

Origin

• From Middle English forswolewen, forswoluwen, forswolȝen, forswalȝen, forswelȝen, from Old English forswelgan, forswilgan, from Proto-Germanic *farswelganą, *fraswelganą, from Proto-Germanic *fra- + *swelganą, equivalent to for- + swallow. Cognate with Dutch verzwelgen ("to engulf, swallow up"), Middle Low German vorswelgen ("to swallow up"), Middle High German verswelgen ("to swallow up"). More at for-, swallow.