forswear
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to reject or renounce under oath.
to forswear an injurious habit.
- Synonyms:
- abandon, forsake, forgo, relinquish, abjure
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to deny vehemently or under oath.
-
to perjure (oneself ).
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr) to reject or renounce with determination or as upon oath
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(tr) to deny or disavow absolutely or upon oath
he forswore any knowledge of the crime
-
to perjure (oneself)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of forswear
First recorded before 900; Middle English forsweren, Old English forswerian; see origin at for-, swear
Explanation
To forswear is to give up an idea, belief, or habit that you’ve had previously. New Year’s is a popular time to forswear anything from sweets to bad relationships. When you forswear, you abandon something completely. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is at first smitten by the maiden Rosaline, but once he lays eyes on Juliet, Rosaline is history. He says of Juliet, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”
Vocabulary lists containing forswear
Romeo and Juliet
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"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Othello
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Question No. 28 asked whether they swore allegiance to the U.S. and would forswear allegiance to the Japanese emperor.
From Seattle Times • May 29, 2024
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 • Dec. 31, 2023
Council forswear knee-jerk politics in favor of a thoughtful discussion about who — and what — best serves the interests of D.C. residents.
From Washington Post • Dec. 3, 2020
He wanted Waterstones to forswear $38 million a year in “co-op fees” paid by publishers.
From New York Times • Aug. 8, 2019
“I thought you did not want the crown! Only yesterday, before we wed, you said you would forswear Denmark’s throne.”
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
