English has at least three fors.

1. the preposition, as in 'This is for you.' My dictionary has a column and a half of definitions for this supposedly simple word.

2. The prefix fore-, which Nigel is talking about. It usually means ahead of, or in front of.

3. The prefix for-, which only cultivated and suave speakers such as Mudcatters are aware of. It is rather archaic. For- tends to ascribe something bad to the verb. It is prohibited or overdone. For example, consider the difference between 'bid' and 'forbid.'

It is akin to the German prefix, 'ver-,' which means about the same thing.

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Trouble is, the -fend part of forfend doesn't make much sense. To forfend is to avert or prevent, which is why my mother would exclaim 'Saints forfend!' How that meaning came about, I do not know.

Nigel, I agree with you that English is a lovely language.