forfend
UK /fɔːˈfɛnd/ · US /fɔɹˈfɛnd/ verb
Forms forfends forfending forfended
Synonyms
debar forefend obviate deflect avert head off stave off fend off avoid ward off
Etymology
From Middle English forfenden (“to ward off, protect, prohibit”), equivalent to for- + fend.
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [Pref. for- + fend. See Forewend.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “forfend”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details