Middle English Dictionary Entry
forswēring ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | forswēring ger. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Swearing to a falsehood, lying under oath, perjury; fals ~.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)57 : Lyesynges, vorzueriinges, stryfinge.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)52/228 : Fals conspiracie and forsweryng, Whare-thurgh our euen-cristen mai lese thair catell.
- a1400 Roy.Counsels (Roy 17.B.17)67 : Be war of forsweryng.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.5.48 : Ne the forswerynge ne the fraude..ne anoieth nat to schrewes.
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)32 : Forsweringe oponly to fore aiuges man, beringe fals wittnes, And alle oþer priuy for sweringes in alle causus.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)416 : It folewiþ nott..þat ech perjury or forswering made inmediatli to god is a grettir synne þan is man slauȝtir.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)127/14 : In þis forbode is also forboden fals swering or forswering.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)153 : The Grek Synon, [That] with his false forswerynge..Made the hors brought into Troye.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Aesop (Hrl 2251)683 : Ther folwith iij incomoditees Of false forsweryng.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2771 : Forsweryng is as moche for to sey As forsakyng God and all his werkis.
2.
(a) Abandoning or renouncing (an occupation) under oath; (b) repudiating (a person) with an oath; (c) a sworn repudiation (of a god or religion), abjuration.
Associated quotations
a
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)103 : In peyne of prisonament and of pillory and forsweryng the craft a ȝer and a day.
b
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)54 : Petir erride..in denyinge and forsweringe Crist in the tyme of his passioun.
c
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.126v : Lo, the holy place of paynemes buth destrued, the auters with forswerynges defouled.