I've been noticing something odd for a few years now, and that is that intellectually-minded people on this forum are using the phrase "heaven forfend". Everybody was saying "heaven forbid" for the last few centuries of our English-speaking culture...certainly for most of my life...but just lately I see people saying "heaven forfend" instead.

What the heck is that about? Do you think it sounds cooler or something to say "heaven forfend"? "Heaven forbid" is the normal expression.

At first I thought "forfend" wasn't even a real word, so I did an online dictionary search. It turns out that forfend is a real word...an archaic one from the 14th century!

Here is the online dictionary info:

forfend
One entry found.

Main Entry: for·fend
Pronunciation: \fȯr-ˈfend\
Function: transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1 archaic : forbid b: to ward off : prevent
2: protect , preserve

Okay, so it is a real word...but man does it ever sound pretentious! Sheesh. Why don't you just say "heaven forbid", like people have been doing for the last few hundred years? And who started this "heaven forfend" craze, anyway? Do you have to hold one pinkie up when you say it? Was it Woody Allen who repopularized the phrase? It sounds like something he might have come up with.