All 6 Uses of
forswear
in
The Taming of the Shrew
- Signior Hortensio, I have often heard Of your entire affection to Bianca; And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness, I will with you, if you be so contented, Forswear Bianca and her love for ever.†
Scene 4.2
- Signior Lucentio, Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow Never to woo her more, but do forswear her, As one unworthy all the former favours That I have fondly flatter'd her withal.†
Scene 4.2
- have you both forsworn me?
Scene 4.2 *forsworn = renounced
- we are spoiled; and yonder he is: deny him, forswear him, or else we are all undone.†
Scene 5.1
- Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!†
Scene 4.2
- Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love, And have forsworn you with Hortensio.†
Scene 4.2
Definitions:
-
(1)
(forswear as in: forswear my country of birth) to decide to stop doing something; or to renounce or disavow something
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) More rarely (especially in the UK), forswear can also mean to commit perjury.