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forsworn

[fawr-swawrn, -swohrn]
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verb
  1. past participle of forswear.
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adjective
  1. perjured.
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Related formsfor·sworn·ness, nounun·for·sworn, adjective

forswear

[fawr-swair]
verb (used with object), for·swore, for·sworn, for·swearing.
  1. to reject or renounce under oath: to forswear an injurious habit.
  2. to deny vehemently or under oath.
  3. to perjure (oneself).
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verb (used without object), for·swore, for·sworn, for·swearing.
  1. to swear falsely; commit perjury.
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Origin of forswear

before 900; Middle English forsweren, Old English forswerian. See for-, swear
Related formsfor·swear·er, noun

Synonyms

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1. abjure, relinquish, forgo, forsake, abandon.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for forsworn

Historical Examples

  • And yet for her a trusted officer, a friend, had forsworn his service and his comrades.

    Priestess of the Flame

    Sewell Peaslee Wright

  • That land, you treacherous, forsworn Spanish dog, is the island of Hispaniola.

    Captain Blood

    Rafael Sabatini

  • The words they speak—they who are his enemies—that he had forsworn his faith: it is not true.

    The Royal Pawn of Venice

    Mrs. Lawrence Turnbull

  • Well doth it become Harmachis, who never was forsworn, to speak to me of oaths!

    Cleopatra

    H. Rider Haggard

  • Raleigh—If truth be constant, and constancy be in truth, why hath he forsworn that that he hath said?

British Dictionary definitions for forsworn

forsworn

verb
  1. the past participle of forswear
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Derived Formsforswornness, noun

forswear

verb -swears, -swearing, -swore or -sworn
  1. (tr) to reject or renounce with determination or as upon oath
  2. (tr) to deny or disavow absolutely or upon oathhe forswore any knowledge of the crime
  3. to perjure (oneself)
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Derived Formsforswearer, noun

Word Origin

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 forsworn

adj.

from Old English forsworenne, past participle of forswerian (see forswear).

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forswear

v.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper