A Middle English compound of 'for' (through) and 'ever' — from the mysterious OE adverb 'ǣfre' whose deeper origin remains debated.
For all future time; for always; eternally.
A compound of 'for' and 'ever.' 'For' comes from Old English 'for' ('before, in front of, because of'), from Proto-Germanic *fura, from PIE *per- ('forward, through'). 'Ever' comes from Old English 'ǣfre' ('always, at any time'), a word of uncertain deeper origin, possibly from a phrase meaning 'in any case' or 'in all life.' The combination 'for ever' was