Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Forswear

For-swear′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp.
Forswore
;
p. p.
Forsworn
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Forswearing
.]
[OE.
forsweren
,
forswerien
, AS.
forswerian
; pref.
for-
+
swerian
to swear. See
For-
, and
Swear
,
Verb.
I.
]
1.
To reject or renounce upon oath; hence, to renounce earnestly, determinedly, or with protestations.
I . . . do
forswear
her.
Shakespeare
2.
To deny upon oath.
Like innocence, and as serenely bold
As truth, how loudly he
forswears
thy gold!
Dryden.
Syn. – See
Perjure
.

For-swear′

,
Verb.
I.
To swear falsely; to commit perjury.
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition


Forswear

FORSWEAR

,
Verb.
T.
pret. forswore; pp. forsworn. See Swear and Answer.]
1.
To reject or renounce upon oath.
2.
To deny upon oath.
Like innocence, and as serenely bold as truth, how loudly he forswears thy gold.
To forswear one's self, is to swear falsely; to perjure one's self.
Thou shalt not forswear thyself. Matt. 5.

FORSWEAR

,
Verb.
I.
To swear falsely; to commit perjury.

Definition 2024


forswear

forswear

English

Alternative forms

Verb

forswear (third-person singular simple present forswears, present participle forswearing, simple past forswore, past participle forsworn)

  1. (transitive) To renounce or deny something, especially under oath.
    • Shakespeare
      I [] do forswear her.
    • Dryden
      Like innocence, and as serenely bold / As truth, how loudly he forswears thy gold!
  2. (intransitive) To commit perjury.
Translations