[f. FORTH adv. + COME v.] intr. To come forth. Now only as an occasional back-formation from the ppl. a.: To be forthcoming.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 122 (Gr.).
| Metod engla heht, | |
| lifes brytta, leoht forðcuman. |
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 713.
| ‘Man,’ he says, ‘als a flour bright, | |
| First forth comes here til þis light, | |
| And es sone broken and passes away.’ |
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., II. vii. Why, butler, seneschal, this food forthcomes not?
1886. Spectator, 2 Jan., 12/1. If funds be forthcoming (and … funds will forthcome).
Hence Forthcome ppl. a., that has come forth or been issued. Also Forthcomer.
1812–14. Sir R. Wilson, in The Saturday Review (1861), XII. 12 Oct., 384/1. Their quantity and quality astonish the Prussians, and gain the English many a gaze as forthcomers from a country where such articles are given to foreign soldiers, whose officers have not equal equipment.
1827. Lamb, Lett. to B. Barton, in Life & Lett., xvi. Wks. (1865), 50. F——, whom I have slightly seen, is editor of a forthcome or coming review of foreign books.
1840. New Monthly Mag., LVIII. 497. To all lawful intents and purposes of immortality as fresh and as well-preserved as the last forthcomer from Paternoster-row, or Albemarle-street, the most blooming young lion of the season.
1863. Masson, in Reader, 7 Nov., 527/3. [Books] no longer forthcoming, but actually forthcome within the last few days.
