forswear

[fawr-swair]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR forswear ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), for·swore, for·sworn, for·swearing.

to reject or renounce under oath: to forswear an injurious habit.

to deny vehemently or under oath.

to perjure (oneself).

verb (used without object), for·swore, for·sworn, for·swearing.

to swear falsely; commit perjury.

Origin of forswear

before 900; Middle English forsweren, Old English forswerian. See for-, swear

Related formsfor·swear·er, noun

Synonyms for forswear

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR forswear ON THESAURUS.COM

1. abjure, relinquish, forgo, forsake, abandon.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for forswear

renounce, repudiate, forgo, recant, forsake, deny, drop, renege, recall, abjure, disclaim, withdraw, reject, retract, disown

Examples from the Web for forswear

Contemporary Examples of forswear

You do not forswear studying by electric light because Lincoln relied on his fireplace.
Randy Cohen’s Three Favorite Ethicist Columns
Randy Cohen
October 9, 2012

Historical Examples of forswear

The old girl must be protected from that sort of eye-opener, if I've to forswear my soul.
Romance
Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer
He would not forswear his fathers' faith and did not understand what the priest said.
From Pole to Pole
Sven Anders Hedin
“Then I forswear all rash promises for the future,” he declared.
That Girl Montana
Marah Ellis Ryan
All the world seemed bent on compelling her to forswear herself.
The Madigans
Miriam Michelson
What is the secret of thy ring that a man must forswear love for it?
Operas Every Child Should Know
Mary Schell Hoke Bacon

British Dictionary definitions for forswear

forswear

verb -swears, -swearing, -swore or -sworn

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

(tr) to deny or disavow absolutely or upon oathhe forswore any knowledge of the crime

to perjure (oneself)

Derived Formsforswearer, noun

Word Origin for forswear

Old English forswearian

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for forswear

Old English forswerian "swear falsely," also "abandon or renounce on oath," from for- "completely" + swerian "to swear." Related: Forswore; forsworn; forswearing.