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For*get" (?), v. t. [imp. Forgot (?) (Forgat (&?;), Obs.); p. p. Forgotten (?), Forgot; p. pr. & vb. n. Forgetting.] [OE. forgeten, foryeten, AS. forgietan, forgitan; pref. for- + gietan, gitan (only in comp.), to get; cf. D. vergeten, G. vergessen, Sw. fˆrg‰ta, Dan. forgiette. See For-, and Get, v. t.] 1. To lose the remembrance of; to let go from the memory; to cease to have in mind; not to think of; also, to lose the power of; to cease from doing.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Ps. ciii. 2.

Let my right hand forget her cunning.

Ps. cxxxvii. 5.

Hath thy knee forget to bow?

Shak.

2. To treat with inattention or disregard; to slight; to neglect.

Can a woman forget her sucking child? . . . Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Is. xlix. 15.

To forget one's self. (a) To become unmindful of one's own personality; to be lost in thought. (b) To be entirely unselfish. (c) To be guilty of what is unworthy of one; to lose one's dignity, temper, or self-control.

For*get"ful (?), a. 1. Apt to forget; easily losing remembrance; as, a forgetful man should use helps to strengthen his memory.

2. Heedless; careless; neglectful; inattentive.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers.

Heb. xiii. 2.

3. Causing to forget; inducing oblivion; oblivious. [Archaic or Poetic] "The forgetful wine." J. Webster.

For*get"ful*ly, adv. In a forgetful manner.

For*get"ful*ness, n. 1. The quality of being forgetful; prononess to let slip from the mind.

2. Loss of remembrance or recollection; a ceasing to remember; oblivion.

A sweet forgetfulness of human care.

Pope.

3. Failure to bear in mind; careless omission; inattention; as, forgetfulness of duty.

Syn. -- Forgetfulnes, Oblivion. Forgetfulness is Anglo-Saxon, and oblivion is Latin. The former commonly has reference to persons, and marks a state of mind; the latter commonly has reference to things, and indicates a condition into which they are sunk. We blame a man for his forgetfulness; we speak of some old custom as buried in oblivion. But this discrimination is not strictly adhered to.

For"ge*tive (?), a. [From Forge.] Inventive; productive; capable. [Obs.] Shak.

For*get"-me-not` (?), n. [Cf. G. vergissmeinnicht.] (Bot.) A small herb, of the genus Myosotis (M. palustris, incespitosa, etc.), bearing a beautiful blue flower, and extensively considered the emblem of fidelity.

Formerly the name was given to the Ajuga ChamÊpitus.

For*get"ta*ble (?), a. Liable to be, or that may be, forgotten. Carlyle.