forswearv.
/fəˈswɛː/, /fɔːˈswɛː/, U.S. /fərˈswɛ(ə)r/, /fɔrˈswɛ(ə)r/ 1.
a. transitive. To abandon or renounce on oath or in a manner deemed irrevocable; = abjure v. to forswear the land, etc.: to swear to abandon it for ever. Also with infinitive as object.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose or intention [verb (transitive)] > abandon, give up, or discontinue
forhightc1000
forswearOE
forletc1175
sdeign1590
to think (the) better of1752
to get off ——1951
OE Beowulf 804 He sigewæpnum forsworen hæfde.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 387 He made hym, vor hys treson, vorsuerye Engelond.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 97 Þe lond boþe forsuore.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xi. l. 214 I wald forswer Scotland for euirmair.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iv. f. 109 By suche contempt the grace offred is refused and as it were forsworne.
1599 W. Shakespeare in W. Shakespeare et al. Passionate Pilgrime (new ed.) sig. A5 A woman I forswore: but I will proue Thou being a Goddesse, I forswore not thee.
1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion xii. 197 They the Land at last did vtterly forsweare.
1660 J. Milton Readie Way Free Commonw. (ed. 2) 8 The solemn ingagement, wherin we all forswore kingship.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals ii. i I shall forswear your company.
1827 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey III. v. xiii. 269 I forswore, with the most solemn oaths, the gaming table.
1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany III. 369 The whole system of pensions should be for ever forsworn.
b. with infinitive as object.
ΚΠ
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. i. 220 Shee hath forsworne to loue. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) v. iii. 81 The thing I haue forsworne to graunt. View more context for this quotation
2. To deny or repudiate on oath or with strong asseveration. †Also with infinitive or sentence as object.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > repudiation or refusal to acknowledge > repudiate or refuse to acknowledge [verb (transitive)]
dissolve1382
denyc1384
renaya1450
forswearc1475
repudy1477
disallowa1513
abrenounce1537
repudiate1560
have1579
disclaim1596
renounce1617
abrenunciate1618
unowna1657
disown1666
refute1886
slam1973
the mind > language > statement > repudiation or refusal to acknowledge > repudiate or refuse to acknowledge [verb (transitive)] > deny on oath
forswearc1475
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 109 Appily I be not..constreyin be nede to..forsuer þe name of my Lord God.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 603/2 Peter..sinned not deadly at the time when he forswore Chryst.
1565–73 T. Cooper Thesaurus Abiurauit creditum, he hath forsworne his debt.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. ii. 38 His oath breaking, which he mended thus, By now forswearing that he is forsworne. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) v. i. 11 That selfe chaine about his necke, Which he forswore most monstrously to haue. View more context for this quotation
a1625 J. Boys Wks. (1629) 491 Who did euer offend in word more than Peter? forswearing his owne master.
1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses ix. 41 If thou durst, [thou] would forswear thy own Hand and Seal.
1738 A. Pope One Thousand Seven Hundred & Thirty Eight 7 A Peer, or Peeress..Who..forswears a Debt.
3. † c. transitive. To defraud of by perjury. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To swear falsely, commit perjury.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [verb (intransitive)] > commit perjury
forsweara1000
manswearOE
perjure1537
perjurate1623
pejerate1656
perjure one's faith1697
a1000 Laws of Edw. & Guth. §3 Gyf gehadod man..forswerige oþþe forlicge.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. v. 33 Thou shalt not forswere.
a1592 R. Greene Sc. Hist. Iames IV (1598) v. sig. I3v You sweare, forsweare, and all to compasse wealth.
1681 C. Cotton Wonders of Peake 45 To swear, curse, slaunder, and forswear More natural is to your Peak Highlander.
a1763 W. Shenstone Charms of Precedence 22 Do ye not flatter, lye, forswear,..And all for this.
1876 F. W. Farrar In Days of Youth xxvii. 265 The relative heinousness of forswearing by the temple and forswearing by its gold.
b. reflexive. To swear falsely, perjure oneself. Also passive to be guilty of perjury.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [verb (reflexive)] > commit perjury
forsweara1000
manswearc1480
perjure1551
a1000 Laws Ecgb. P. ii. §24 Ȝif hwylc læwede man hine forswerige..fæste iiii. gear.
c1000 Ælfric Joshua ii. 20 We ne beoþ forsworene.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 13 Ne for-swerie þu þe.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2058 Nu heo beð for-sworne [c1300 Otho for-sworene] mid heore swike-dome.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 6 Yef he zuereþ uals be his wytinde; he him uorzuerrþ.
c1400 Rom. Rose 5973–4 If I forswere me, than am I lorn, But I wol never be forsworn.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cclxxx. 419 He sware by his fathers soule, wherby he was neuer forsworne.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. v. f. vjv Thou shalt not forswere thy silfe, but shaltt performe thyne othe to God.
1666 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 89 Dr. Pelham forswore himself, having 800li. lying by him.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 105. ⁋3 I hope you won't be such a perjured Wretch as to forswear your self.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Leila v. iii. 259 Hear one who never was forsworn.
1871 J. S. Blackie Four Phases Morals i. 17 I have sworn to obey the laws, and I cannot forswear myself.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > defrauding or swindling > perpetrate (a swindle) [verb (transitive)] > defraud or swindle > by perjury
forswear1668
1668 H. Rolle Abridgm., Action sur Case (F.) pl. 12. 40 Si home dit dun auter, He did forswear me..40s. worth of Tithes in Canterbury Court. Nul Action gist pur ceux Parols.
a. To swear by (a thing) falsely or profanely.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrilege > blasphemy > blaspheme [verb (transitive)]
waryc1000
cursec1050
lastc1225
forswearc1325
blasphemea1382
mansweara1500
c1325 Song Mercy 151 Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 123 We stunt noþer for schame, ne drede To..For-swere his [God's] soule, his hert al-so.
b. To swear (something) falsely; to break (an oath); to forsake (sworn allegiance).
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > unfaithfulness > be unfaithful to [verb (transitive)]
falsec1374
deceivea1400
forsweara1586
perjure?1610
jilt1853
a1586 [implied in: Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xxii. sig. Dd2 Plexirtus, mingling forsworne excuses with false-meant promises. (at forsworn adj. 2)].
a1631 J. Donne Woman's Constancy 7 Wilt thou then..say..that oathes, made in reverentiall feare Of Love and his wrath, any may forsweare?
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxvii. 8 Duty of years forsworn, honour in injury lost.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > promise or vow [verb (transitive)]
swearc825
hightOE
behighta1000
behestc1175
bespeakc1320
queatha1325
vow1338
avowc1374
undertakec1385
forhighta1400
forsweara1400
hest14..
promitc1422
promise1430
protest1430
to swear outa1440
to swear to ——1598
pollicitate1657
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14561 Þe land o Iude he has for-born, For þar þai hafe his ded forsuorn.
Derivatives
forˈswearing n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > perjury
forswornnessc1000
manathOE
false swearingc1200
misswarec1225
forswearing1340
perjurea1393
perjurya1393
manswearingc1400
manswornc1400
perjurementc1450
misswearing1496
perjuration1570
pejeration1650
hard swearing1731
rapping1743
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [adjective] > perjury > swearing falsely
forswearing1340
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 57 Þise ten boȝes we moȝe alsuo nemni ydelnesse..lyesynges, vorzueriinges [etc.].
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxvi. 93 Dydo whan she dyde remembre the forsweryng of laomedon..made grete doubte to folowe theym.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. (1634) iv. xviii. 711 With forswearings..to enter forceably into any mans possession.
1692 W. Sherlock Let. to Friend conc. French Invasion 14 The Non-Swearing or For-Swearing Clergy and Laiety, who will help forwards another Revolution.
1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 8 Forswearing..was the stated Practice of the Ship's Crew.
forˈswearer n. one who forswears (himself), a perjurer.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > perjury > perjurer
manswareOE
false swearerc1380
mansworna1400
forswearer1413
perjurera1500
perjured1526
perjurea1540
post-knight1576
knight of the post1580
perjurator1689
mounter1781
stag1823
straw-shoe1826
subornee1890
perjuress1898
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iii. v. 53 Ye lyers, forswerers and witnessers of falshede.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie xxxix. 230 God will in the end vtter his wrath both against forswearers and against theeues.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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