Definition

1. Verb:
   • To renounce or turn away from something; to give up something formally or under oath. This meaning emphasizes a deliberate and often solemn rejection or abandonment of a practice, belief, or object.
   • To do without; to cease to hold or adhere to; to relinquish. This meaning focuses on the act of abstaining from or discontinuing the use or belief in something.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • After his health scare, he decided to foreswear all processed foods.
  • The knight vowed to foreswear worldly wealth and dedicate his life to prayer.
  • They agreed to foreswear violence and seek a peaceful resolution.

Advanced Usage

• "To foreswear oneself": This is an archaic legal phrase meaning to commit perjury; to swear falsely.
  • The witness was accused of having forsworn himself during the trial. (Note: The past participle is often "forsworn").

Variants and Related Words

• Forswear: This is a common alternate spelling of "foreswear." The meanings are identical.
• Forsworn (adj): Having renounced something under oath.
  • He was a forsworn knight, no longer bound by his old vows.
• Foreswearing (gerund/noun): The act of renouncing.
  • His foreswearing of alcohol was a surprise to everyone.

Synonyms

• Renounce: To give up, especially by formal announcement.
• Abjure: To renounce or reject solemnly.
• Relinquish: To voluntarily cease to keep or claim; to give up.
• Forgo: To abstain from; to go without.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

(This word does not commonly form standard phrasal verbs. Its usage is typically direct: "foreswear something.")

Related Idioms

• To foreswear allegiance: To formally renounce loyalty to a person, group, or country.
  • The rebels were forced to foreswear allegiance to the crown.

Verb

1. turn away from; give up
   • I am foreswearing women forever
2. do without or cease to hold or adhere to
   • We are dispensing with formalities
   • relinquish the old ideas