The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Forbear \For*bear"\ (f[o^]r*b[^a]r"), n. [See Fore, and Bear
   to produce.]
   An ancestor; a forefather; -- usually in the plural. [Scot.]
   [Also spelled forebear.] "Your forbears of old." --Sir W.
   Scott.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Forbear \For*bear"\ (f[o^]r*b[^a]r"), v. i. [imp.
   Forbore(Forbare, [Obs.]); p. p. Forborne; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Forbearing.] [OE. forberen, AS. forberan; pref. for- +
   beran to bear. See Bear to support.]
   1. To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay.
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            Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall
            I forbear?                            --1 Kings
                                                  xxii. 6.
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   2. To refuse; to decline; to give no heed.
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            Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they
            will hear, or whether they will forbear. --Ezek. ii.
                                                  7.
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   3. To control one's self when provoked.
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            The kindest and the happiest pair
            Will find occasion to forbear.        --Cowper.
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            Both bear and forbear.                --Old Proverb.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Forbear \For*bear"\, v. t.
   1. To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; to give up;
      as, to forbear the use of a word of doubtful propriety.
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            But let me that plunder forbear.      --Shenstone.
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            The King
            In open battle or the tilting field
            Forbore his own advantage.            --Tennyson.
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   2. To treat with consideration or indulgence.
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            Forbearing one another in love.       --Eph. iv. 2.
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   3. To cease from bearing. [Obs.]
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            Whenas my womb her burden would forbear. --Spenser.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

forbear
    n 1: a person from whom you are descended [syn: forebear,
         forbear]
    v 1: refrain from doing; "she forbore a snicker" [syn:
         forbear, hold back]
    2: resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back";
       "she could not forbear weeping" [syn: refrain, forbear]
       [ant: act, move]