The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #114361   Message #2440979
Posted By: GUEST,leeneia
15-Sep-08 - 10:47 AM
Thread Name: BS: When did 'forbid' become 'forfend'?
Subject: RE: BS: When did 'forbid' become 'forfend'?
My mother, an American born in Pittsburgh in 1918 and raised in various places in the Midwest, often said 'Saints forfend!' As in:

'Elvis Presley might be the main star at the Youth Festival.'
'Saints forfend!'

Heaven knows where she picked it up, but 'forfend' has been around for quite a while.