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.
Quotation dates: 1400-1567
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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 14.. Ib. 364/2.
Thar he sall forsuer the toun c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace 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 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries II. 391.
The Assys ordains the wedwyf and her dowther to forsweir the town 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 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 Acts of Schir William Wallace 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] 1513 Ib. i. Prol. 414.
Quhou Eneas to Dydo was forsworn
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