v. Obs. Also forepass. [ad. OF. for-, fourpasser, f. fors, FOR- pref.3 + passer to PASS; in Spenser’s quasi-archaic use the prefix seems to be taken as FORE-.]
1. trans. To go beyond, surpass, excel. [So in OF.; in quot. 1374 Skeat takes for as a conj.]
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 100.
| As to my dome, in al Troyes citee | |
| Nas noon so fair, for passing every wight | |
| So aungellyk was hir natyf beautee, | |
| That lyk a thing inmortal semed she. |
153[?]. Starkey, Lett. to Cromwell, in England, p. lxxii. So my wytt & capacyte hit for-passyth.
1550. Coverdale, Spir. Perle, xxx. 83 b. Lyke as the spyryte forepasseth and ouercommyth the fleshe in Christe.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 303/2. They that haue truly tasted of the contents and substance of the Gospell, know that it forepasseth all our wits.
b. To exceed (a time-limit).
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 72. The Subiect should haue his time of Watch for fiue yeares after his Title accrued; which if hee fore-passed, his Right should be bound for euer after.
2. intr. To pass beyond. In Spenser: To go past, pass.
1496. Bk. St. Albans, Fishing, D iv.
| Whether ouer the water he woll forpas, | |
| Or torne ayen the same waye there he fyrste was. |
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. x. 20.
| One day, as hee forpassed by the plaine | |
| With weary pace, he farre away espide | |
| A couple, seeming well to be his twaine. | |
| Ibid. (1591), M. Hubberd, 519. | |
| Scarse can a Bishoprick forpas them by, | |
| But that it must be gelt in priuitie. |
