1. 
[syn: forbearing, longanimous]
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.
      [1913 Webster]
            Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall
            I forbear?                            --1 Kings
                                                  xxii. 6.
      [1913 Webster]
   2. To refuse; to decline; to give no heed.
      [1913 Webster]
            Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they
            will hear, or whether they will forbear. --Ezek. ii.
                                                  7.
      [1913 Webster]
   3. To control one's self when provoked.
      [1913 Webster]
            The kindest and the happiest pair
            Will find occasion to forbear.        --Cowper.
      [1913 Webster]
            Both bear and forbear.                --Old Proverb.
      [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Forbearing \For*bear"ing\, a.
   Disposed or accustomed to forbear; patient; long-suffering.
   -- For*bear"ing*ly, adv.
   [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
forbearing
    adj 1: showing patient and unruffled self-control and restraint
           under adversity; slow to retaliate or express resentment;
           "seemly and forbearing...yet strong enough to resist
           aggression"; "was longanimous in the face of suffering"
           [syn: forbearing, longanimous]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
44 Moby Thesaurus words for "forbearing":
   Spartan, accepting, armed with patience, benevolent, charitable,
   clement, compassionate, conciliatory, disciplined, easy, easygoing,
   endurant, enduring, forbearant, forgiving, generous, gentle,
   humane, indulgent, kind, lax, lenient, long-suffering, longanimous,
   magnanimous, merciful, mild, moderate, patient, patient as Job,
   persevering, philosophical, placable, self-controlled, soft,
   sparing, stoic, tender, tolerant, tolerating, tolerative,
   understanding, unresentful, unrevengeful