forswear
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English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English forsweren, from Old English forswerian (“to swear falsely”). Cognate with Old Saxon farswerian, Old High German farsweren, German verschwören. More at for- + swear.
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
forswear (third-person singular simple present forswears, present participle forswearing, simple past forswore, past participle forsworn)
- (transitive) To renounce or deny something, especially under oath.
- We forswear allegiance and support for the Economic Freedom Fighters.
- 1592, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew:
- Never to woo her more; but do forswear her.
- 1726, John Dryden, translating Juvenal, Satires[1]:
- Like Innocence, and as serenely bold / As Truth, how loudly He forswears thy Gold!.
- 1995, Philip Roth, Sabbath's Theater[2]:
- Either forswear fucking others or the affair is over.
- 2008, Philip Roth, Indignation:
- The sheer unimaginableness of coming into her mouth — of coming into anything other than the air or a tissue or a dirty sock — was an allurement too stupendous for a novice to forswear.
- (intransitive or reflexive) To commit perjury; to break an oath.
Translations[edit]
to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
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to commit perjury
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Anagrams[edit]
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