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forswear

[ fawr-swair ]
/ fɔrˈswɛər /
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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.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. forssmann, werner,
  2. forster,
  3. forster, e. m.,
  4. forsterite,
  5. forstner bit,
  6. forsworn,
  7. forsyth,
  8. forsythia,
  9. fort,
  10. fort belvoir

Origin of forswear

before 900; Middle English forsweren, Old English forswerian. See for-, swear
Related formsfor·swear·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for forswear

British Dictionary definitions for forswear

forswear

/ (fɔːˈswɛə) /

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

forswear

v.

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper