forshape

English

Etymology

From Middle English forshapen, forschapen (“to transform”), from Old English forsċieppan, forsċeppan (“to transform”), from Proto-Germanic *fra- + *skapjaną, equivalent to for- +‎ shape. Cognate with German verschaffen (“to provide, supply, furnish”), Swedish förskapa (“to cut out”).

Verb

forshape (third-person singular simple present forshapes, present participle forshaping, simple past forshaped, past participle forshaped or forshapen)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To metamorphose; change the shape of; transform.
   • late 14th century, John Gower, Confessio Amantis

     Unkindelich he was transformed,
     That he which erst a man was formed,
     Into a woman was forshape,
     That was to him an angry jape.

2. (transitive, obsolete) To put out of shape; distort; make misshapen; disfigure.