Obs. exc. Hist. [OE. foreáþ, foráþ, f. FORE- pref. + áþ OATH.] In OE. Law: An oath required of the party commencing a suit unless the fact complained of was manifest.
a. 1000. Laws Ath., i. § 23. Ofga ælc man his tihtlan mid foreaðe.
1641. Ancient Cust. Eng., in Harl. Misc. (1808), I. 240. He might, afterward, with his fore-oath his lord’s part play at any need.
1895. Pollock & Maitland, Hist. Eng. Law, I. 16. A fore-oath was needless if a man sued for wounding and showed the wound to the court.
