forswear Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
    retract; resile; abjure; recant.
    • He retracted his earlier statements about his religion
    • She abjured her beliefs

WordNet

For*swear" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. forsweren, forswerien, AS. forswerian; pref. for- + swerian to swear. See For-, and Swear, v. i.
Wordforms
imperfect Forswore ; past participle Forsworn ; present participle & verbal noun Forswearing
Definitions
  1. To reject or renounce upon oath; hence, to renounce earnestly, determinedly, or with protestations.
    I . . . do forswear her. Shak.
  2. To deny upon oath.
    Like innocence, and as serenely bold As truth, how loudly he forswears thy gold! Dryden.
    tt. v. 33. Syn. -- See Perjure.
For*swear" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To swear falsely; to commit perjury. Shak.

Webster 1913