forswear

Also fore·swear

[fawr-swair]

verb (used with object)

forswore, forsworn, forswearing. 

1. to reject or renounce under oath.

   to forswear an injurious habit.

   Synonyms: abandon, forsake, forgo, relinquish, abjure

2. to deny vehemently or under oath.

3. to perjure (oneself ).

verb (used without object)

forswore, forsworn, forswearing. 

1. to swear falsely; commit perjury.

forswear

/ fɔːˈswɛə /

verb

1. (tr) to reject or renounce with determination or as upon oath

2. (tr) to deny or disavow absolutely or upon oath

   he forswore any knowledge of the crime

3. to perjure (oneself)

Other Word Forms

• forswearer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of forswear¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English forsweren, Old English forswerian; for-, swear

Word History and Origins

Origin of forswear¹

Old English forswearian

Example Sentences

Question No. 28 asked whether they swore allegiance to the U.S. and would forswear allegiance to the Japanese emperor.

From Seattle Times

“Director” may be the wrong word, though; the onscreen credit is simply “by” Harmony Korine, who has apparently forsworn any impulse to control his material.

From New York Times

It’s as if by forswearing the evanescent experience of real-life performing, Glenn Gould gave himself eternal fame.

From Los Angeles Times

He said this would be the "challenge for this year" as he urged leaders to "forswear wedge issues" that render their opponents their enemies.

From BBC

None of this is to say that Rodrigo has forsworn the type of emotional melodrama that made her a star.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• forgo 
• forsake 
• recant 
• renounce 
• repudiate 
• swear off