forswear
fawr swer
- v formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
- A shrewd, self-effacing administrator, Sir Charles traveled to the far corners of his land persuading tribal chiefs to end their wars and forswear headhunting.
- Carnivores love it, health nuts crave it, vegetarians forswear solemn oaths for it.
- They have offered money and shelter to pregnant women, asking that they forswear abortion.