forth

Everyday

1. Forth means forward or onward, away from a starting place. tree →
2. Back and forth means going one way and then back again, many times. tree →
3. From that time forth means from then on. tree →
4. «And so forth» means and other things like these. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: a word of motion; «back and forth» means a trip there and back, so a distance is counted twice or two trips are counted. In science: a pendulum swings back and forth. In stories: the knight rode forth; old words «go forth». Phrases: back and forth, and so forth, set forth, from that day forth, bring forth.

Examples

• He walks back and forth to school, 2 miles each way. tree →
• The swing goes back and forth 10 times. tree →
• She swam back and forth across the pool 4 times. tree →
• From that day forth he saved a dollar a week. tree →
• The knight rode forth to find the dragon. tree →
• The dog ran back and forth along the fence. tree →
• We packed pencils, rulers, rubbers and so forth. tree →
• The pendulum of the clock swings back and forth. tree →
• Then he and Stan set forth. tree →

Note

Homophone: «fourth» (4th) sounds the same; do not mix them up. A rather old or formal word except in «back and forth» and «and so forth». «Back and forth» often doubles a distance or counts two trips. Trap: check whether a «back and forth» counts as one lap or two.

In Jewish tradition

It is used in old style, as in "go forth" or "brought forth," meaning to go or bring out.

Interpretation. "Go forth" often marks the Exodus, the going out of Egypt, which is remembered each Passover.

Examples

• This day ye go forth in the month Abib. (Torah EXO.13.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they brought him forth, and set him without the city. (Torah GEN.19.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• and Pathrusim, and Casluhim — whence went forth the Philistines — and Caphtorim. (Torah GEN.10.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• And whose spirit came forth from thee? (Writings JOB.26.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Is a nation brought forth at once? (Prophets ISA.66.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Or wast thou brought forth before the hills? (Writings JOB.15.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Homophone: «fourth» (4th) sounds the same; do not mix them up. A rather old or formal word except in «back and forth» and «and so forth». «Back and forth» often doubles a distance or counts two trips. Trap: check whether a «back and forth» counts as one lap or two.

Early Modern English

Meaning

forward or out, away from a starting place. tree →

Then and now

Today forth is rare, found mostly in phrases like 'and so forth'; here it means out, away, or on, as in 'go forth'.

Examples

• This day ye go forth in the month Abib. (Torah EXO.13.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• The prince called forth Ivan Golik. (Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales) tree →
• The ineffable Sephiroth give forth the Ten numbers. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Today: out, forward.