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forsweare

Verb
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

To deny under oath or to renounce something solemnly; this archaic verb is used in poetry to emphasize the gravity of oath-breaking or betrayal, often in dramatic or legalistic contexts, adding weight to a character's actions.

Detailed Definition
This is an older form of “forswear,” meaning to swear falsely or to renounce by oath. Donne uses it in the context of lovers breaking promises, so the word carries a legal and moral force beyond ordinary “lying.”
Example
Example in poetry:
“Of Love, and his wrath, any may forsweare?” uses an archaic form of forswear, meaning renounce or swear falsely against; “He would forsweare revenge before the altar”; “The speaker cannot forsweare the beloved’s name”; “To forsweare an oath is to reject its claim”
Additional Notes
“Forsweare” is an archaic spelling and a specialized oath-related verb that many readers would not know at once.; Found in the poem, Woman's Constancy by John Donne
Also Known As
Renounce Abjure Forsake Disavow
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