forswear

verb

for·swear fȯr-ˈswer How to pronounce forswear (audio)

variants or less commonly foreswear

forswore fȯr-ˈswȯr How to pronounce forswear (audio)

; forsworn fȯr-ˈswȯrn How to pronounce forswear (audio)

; forswearing

transitive verb

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

: to reject or renounce under oath

: to renounce earnestly

: to deny under oath

intransitive verb

: to swear falsely

Did you know?

Forswear (which is also sometimes spelled foreswear) is the modern English equivalent of Old English forswerian. It can suggest denial ("[Thou] would'st forswear thy own hand and seal" — John Arbuthnot, John Bull) or perjury ("Is it the interest of any man … to lie, forswear himself, indulge hatred, seek desperate revenge, or do murder?" — Charles Dickens, American Notes). But in current use, it most often has to do with giving something up, as in "The feuding parties agreed to forswear violence" and "She refused to forswear her principles."

Example Sentences

She forswore her allegiance to the old regime. He foreswore cigarettes as his New Year's resolution.

Recent Examples on the Web The Kremlin has demanded that NATO pull back from Eastern Europe and forswear the addition of potential new members such as Ukraine.

William Mauldin, WSJ, 19 Jan. 2022 Zelensky’s alternative may be to pursue a ceasefire deal with Putin that could require Ukraine to forswear future NATO membership, among other bitter concessions.

Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2022 Ukraine has refused to forswear its right to join the NATO military alliance, a proposition Putin has described as a red line.

Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2022 Neither Washington nor Kyiv is ready to forswear Ukraine’s sovereign right to choose its alliances.

Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2022 The West’s failure to live up to that agreement, in this argument, is the real cause of the crisis now gripping Europe as Mr. Putin demands that NATO forswear membership for Ukraine as the price of calling off a potential invasion.

New York Times, 9 Jan. 2022 McCarthy's refusal to forswear his relationship with Trump and his decision to repair it is the latest troubling sign that vast swaths of the Republican Party have turned their backs on the standards and obligations of democracy.

Stephen Collinson, CNN, 16 July 2021 And, perhaps most important, the U.S. should press Egypt and Qatar to use their leverage to rein in Hamas and force Palestinians to hold new elections and unify their leadership with candidates who forswear violence against Israelis.

Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 The rule of law is vital to free and fair elections, and Mr. Trump is right not to forswear his legal options.

The Editorial Board, WSJ, 24 Sep. 2020 See More

单词	forswears
释义	forswear verb for·swear fȯr-ˈswer variants or less commonly foreswear forswore fȯr-ˈswȯr ; forsworn fȯr-ˈswȯrn ; forswearing transitive verb 1 : to make a liar of (oneself) under or as if under oath 2 a : to reject or renounce under oath b : to renounce earnestly 3 : to deny under oath intransitive verb : to swear falsely Did you know? Forswear (which is also sometimes spelled foreswear) is the modern English equivalent of Old English forswerian. It can suggest denial ("[Thou] would'st forswear thy own hand and seal" — John Arbuthnot, John Bull) or perjury ("Is it the interest of any man … to lie, forswear himself, indulge hatred, seek desperate revenge, or do murder?" — Charles Dickens, American Notes). But in current use, it most often has to do with giving something up, as in "The feuding parties agreed to forswear violence" and "She refused to forswear her principles." Synonyms abjure abnegate recant renege renounce repeal repudiate retract take back unsay withdraw See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences She forswore her allegiance to the old regime. He foreswore cigarettes as his New Year's resolution. Recent Examples on the Web The Kremlin has demanded that NATO pull back from Eastern Europe and forswear the addition of potential new members such as Ukraine. William Mauldin, WSJ, 19 Jan. 2022 Zelensky’s alternative may be to pursue a ceasefire deal with Putin that could require Ukraine to forswear future NATO membership, among other bitter concessions. Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2022 Ukraine has refused to forswear its right to join the NATO military alliance, a proposition Putin has described as a red line. Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2022 Neither Washington nor Kyiv is ready to forswear Ukraine’s sovereign right to choose its alliances. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2022 The West’s failure to live up to that agreement, in this argument, is the real cause of the crisis now gripping Europe as Mr. Putin demands that NATO forswear membership for Ukraine as the price of calling off a potential invasion. New York Times, 9 Jan. 2022 McCarthy's refusal to forswear his relationship with Trump and his decision to repair it is the latest troubling sign that vast swaths of the Republican Party have turned their backs on the standards and obligations of democracy. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 16 July 2021 And, perhaps most important, the U.S. should press Egypt and Qatar to use their leverage to rein in Hamas and force Palestinians to hold new elections and unify their leadership with candidates who forswear violence against Israelis. Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 The rule of law is vital to free and fair elections, and Mr. Trump is right not to forswear his legal options. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 24 Sep. 2020 See More Word History Etymology Middle English forsweren, from Old English forswerian, from for- + swerian to swear First Known Use before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Legal Definition forswear verb for·swear fōr-ˈswar forswore -ˈswōr ; forsworn -ˈswōrn ; forswearing transitive verb 1 : to reject, renounce, or deny under oath 2 : to renounce earnestly intransitive verb : to swear falsely : commit false swearing forswears verb variants also foreswears present tense third-person singular of forswear as in renounces to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) the new government would have to forswear the use of torture if it wished to be granted full diplomatic recognition Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance renounces repeals abjures denies withdraws retracts recants reneges repudiates abandons takes back abnegates spurns forsakes disavows disowns relinquishes gainsays disclaims controverts unsays contradicts refutes negates disproves rebuts revokes disputes recalls gives up backtracks backs off surrenders disallows backs down negatives disagrees (with) bolts Antonyms & Near Antonyms declares admits asserts contends claims acknowledges proclaims professes maintains affirms states adheres (to) maintains supports confirms endorses defends avows accepts vows embraces adopts indorses upholds espouses vouches backs See More
随便看	siderolites sideromelane sideronatrite sideropeniae sideropenias siderophile siderose sideroses siderostat siderostatic siderostats siderotil siderous Sideroxylon siders sides sides (with) sides against sides with sidesaddle sidesaddle flower sidesaddles sidescraper sideshake sideshow

forswear

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Legal Definition

verb

verb