forspeak

transitive verb

for·​speak

fə(r)ˈspēk

1

now dialectal British : to cast a bad spell over : bewitch especially by immoderate praise

don't boast about the child, lest you forspeak him

2

obsolete : to speak against : asperse

Word History

Etymology

Middle English forspeken to cast a bad spell over, speak evil of, from Old English forspecan, forsprecan to speak in vain, deny, denounce, from for- + specan, sprecan to speak

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