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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Forswer(e, v. Also: forsuer(e, -sweyre, for-, foirsweir. P.p. forsworne, -suorn. [ME. forswere, -swerie. OE. forswerian.]

1. tr. To renounce on oath or solemnly. 14.. Acts I. 39/2.
He sal forsuer to do that craft wyth his awne propir handis Ib. 364/2.
Thar he sall forsuer the toun c1475 Wall. x. 214.
I wald forswer Scotland for euirmair c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 90 (Asl.)
The new maid knycht lay in to swoun And did all armes forswere 1538 Soc. Ant. II. 391.
The Assys ordains the wedwyf and her dowther to forsweir the town 1567 G. Ball. 16.
Quha … Sathan and his warkis hes forsworne, Thay salbe saif

2. To swear falsely by (something). In p.p. Having sworn falsely, perjured. c1475 Wall. xi. 1054.
Forsuorn till him he was lang tym befor 1513 Doug. xii. xiii. 64.
I swer tharto be the onplesand well Of Stix, … Quhais … superstitioun heir The Goddis kepis, that nane dar it forswere [v.r. forsweyre] Ib. i. Prol. 414.
Quhou Eneas to Dydo was forsworn