One who has preceded another in a direct line of descent; an ascendant. In the common law, the word is understood as well of the immediate parents, as, of these that are higher; as may appear by the statute 25 Ed. III. De natis ultra mare, and so in the statute of 6 R. III. cap. 6, and by many others.

In the context of the law, it refers to the act of delaying from enforcing a right, obligation, or debt. For example, a creditor may forbear legal action against the debtor if they settle the debt payment with new payment conditions.