[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/forth/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [F](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/f/) / forth # forth adverb (forth) «forth» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Forth means forward or onward, away from a starting place. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#m1) 2. Back and forth means going one way and then back again, many times. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#m2) 3. From that time forth means from then on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#m3) 4. «And so forth» means and other things like these. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#m4) ### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#x1) - The swing goes back and forth 10 times. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#x2) - She swam back and forth across the pool 4 times. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#x3) - From that day forth he saved a dollar a week. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#x4) - The knight rode forth to find the dragon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#x5) - The dog ran back and forth along the fence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#x6) - We packed pencils, rulers, rubbers and so forth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#x7) - The pendulum of the clock swings back and forth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#x8) - Then he and Stan set forth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/#x9) ### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forth/#x1) - And they brought him forth, and set him without the city. (Torah GEN.19.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forth/#x2) - and Pathrusim, and Casluhim — whence went forth the Philistines — and Caphtorim. (Torah GEN.10.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forth/#x3) - And whose spirit came forth from thee? (Writings JOB.26.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forth/#x4) - Is a nation brought forth at once? (Prophets ISA.66.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forth/#x5) - Or wast thou brought forth before the hills? (Writings JOB.15.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forth/#x6) ### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/forth/#m1) ### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/forth/#x1) - The prince called forth Ivan Golik. (Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/forth/#x2) - The ineffable Sephiroth give forth the Ten numbers. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/forth/#x3) ### Note Today: out, forward. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «forth» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forth/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«forth» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/forth.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «forth» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forth/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«forth» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/forth.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «forth» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/forth/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«forth» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/forth.html) on Mova free.