'forget' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'forgietan', where 'for-' meant 'away, completely' and 'gietan' meant 'to get, obtain'.

'forget' changed from Old English 'forgietan' to Middle English 'forgeten' and eventually became the modern English word 'forget'.

Initially it had senses related to 'losing or giving up getting/holding' (a sense of 'completely getting rid of' or 'losing hold of'), but over time it evolved into the primary meaning 'to fail to remember' and related senses like 'neglect'.