Part 271

Forcing bed or pit, a plant bed having an under layer of fermenting manure, the fermentation yielding bottom heat for forcing plants; a hotbed. -- Forcing engine, a fire engine. -- Forcing fit (Mech.), a tight fit, as of one part into a hole in another part, which makes it necessary to use considerable force in putting the two parts together. -- Forcing house, a greenhouse for the forcing of plants, fruit trees, etc. -- Forcing machine, a powerful press for putting together or separating two parts that are fitted tightly one into another, as for forcing a crank on a shaft, or for drawing off a car wheel from the axle. -- Forcing pump. See Force pump (b).

For"ci*pal (?), a. Forked or branched like a pair of forceps; constructed so as to open and shut like a pair of forceps. Sir T. Browne.

{ For"ci*pate (?), For"ci*pa`ted (?) }, a. Like a pair of forceps; as, a forcipated mouth.

For`ci*pa"tion (?), n. Torture by pinching with forceps or pinchers. Bacon.

For*cut" (?), v. t. To cut completely; to cut off. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ford (frd), n. [AS. ford; akin to G. furt, Icel. fjˆrr bay, and to E. fare. √ 78. See Fare, v. i., and cf. Frith arm of the sea.] 1. A place in a river, or other water, where it may be passed by man or beast on foot, by wading.

He swam the Esk river where ford there was none.

Sir W. Scott.

2. A stream; a current.

With water of the ford Or of the clouds.

Spenser.

Permit my ghost to pass the Stygian ford.

Dryden.

Ford, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forded; p. pr. & vb. n. Fording.] To pass or cross, as a river or other water, by wading; to wade through.

His last section, which is no deep one, remains only to be forted.

Milton.

Ford"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being forded. -- Ford"a*ble*ness, n.

Ford"less, a. Without a ford.

A deep and fordless river.

Mallock.

For*do" (?), v. t. [OE. fordon, AS. ford&?;n; pref. for- + d&?;n to do. See For-, and Do, v. i.] 1. To destroy; to undo; to ruin. [Obs.]

This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite.

Shak.

2. To overcome with fatigue; to exhaust. M. Arnold.

All with weary task fordone.

Shak.

For*done" (?), a. [See Fordo.] Undone; ruined. [Obs.] Spenser.

For*drive" (?), v. t. To drive about; to drive here and there. [Obs.] Rom. of R.