forswear

verb for·swear \fȯr-ˈswer\

: to promise to give up (something) or to stop doing (something)

for·swore\-ˈswȯr\for·sworn\-ˈswȯrn\for·swear·ing

Full Definition of FORSWEAR

transitive verb

: to make a liar of (oneself) under or as if under oath

a : to reject or renounce under oath

b : to renounce earnestly

: to deny under oath

intransitive verb

: to swear falsely

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Variants of FORSWEAR

for·swear also fore·swear \fȯr-ˈswer\

Origin of FORSWEAR

Middle English forsweren, from Old English forswerian, from for- + swerian to swear

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FORSWEAR

Synonyms: abnegate, abjure (also foreswear), recant, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw

Antonyms: adhere (to)

Synonym Discussion of FORSWEAR

abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief. abjure implies a firm rejecting or abandoning often made under oath <abjured the errors of his former faith>. renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown <renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting>. forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal <I cannot forswear my principles>. recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught <if they recant they will be spared>. retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation <the newspaper had to retract the story>.

Rhymes with FORSWEAR

affair, aglare, airfare, Ajmer, Altair, antbear, armchair, au pair, aware, bakeware, barware, Basseterre, Baudelaire, beachwear, bergère, beware, bid fair, big hair, black bear, bricklayer, broodmare, brown bear, bugbear, caneware, carfare, Carrère, cave bear, chi-square, clayware, club chair, compare, compere, confrere, cookware, corsair, courseware, creamware, crosshair, cudbear, daymare, dead air, decare, deck chair, declare, delftware, despair, dishware, éclair, elsewhere, ensnare, eyewear, fanfare, fieldfare, firmware, flatware, Flaubert, footwear, forbear, forebear, foursquare, freeware, funfair, galère, giftware, glassware, Great Bear, groupware, Gruyère, guard hair, hardware, health care, hectare, high chair, horsehair, hot air, impair, infare, Khmer, Kildare, knitwear, life-care, light air, longhair, loungewear, Mayfair, menswear, meunière, midair, mohair, Molière, neckwear, nightmare, no fair, outstare, out-there, outwear, playwear, plein air, plowshare, Poor Clare, Port Blair, portiere, premiere, prepare, pushchair, rainwear, redware, repair, root hair, Sancerre, sea hare, shank's mare, shareware, shorthair, side chair, Sinclair, skiwear, sleepwear, slipware, sloth bear, software, somewhere, spongeware, sportswear, stemware, stoneware, sun bear, swimwear, threadbare, tinware, torchère, trouvère, tuyere, unfair, unhair, unswear, Voltaire, warfare, welfare, wheelchair, wirehair, workfare

Learn More About FORSWEAR

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "forswear"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "forswear"

Nglish: Translation of "forswear" for Spanish speakers

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