ppl. a. [pa. pple. of FORSWEAR.]

1

  1.  That has forsworn himself, perjured.

2

O. E. Chron., an. 1094. [He] hine forsworenne & trywleasne clypode.

3

a. 1100.  Ags. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 337. Periurus, forsworen.

4

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 135/1011. Puyrliche for-suore we schullen him preoui.

5

c. 1400.  An Apology for Lollard Doctrines, 37. For sworn men, cursars, drunksum men, rauenors, fornicarers.

6

1571.  Golding, Calvin on Ps. iii. 84. God will mainteyne the faithfulnesse of his promises against such forsworne naughty packs.

7

1680.  Falkland, Life Edw. II., in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793), 49. Scarcely were his heavy eyes locked up in silent slumber, when his forsworn traiterous murderers enter his chamber.

8

1718.  Free-thinker, No. 20. 135. This Precaution, in the Legislature, has, nevertheless, given a very specious Occasion to the Sworn, and the Forsworn, Enemies of the Protestant Succession, to raise farther Jealousies in weak Minds.

9

1849–53.  Rock, Ch. of Fathers, III. x. 501. All, and every one of our pastors, from the sainted Austin down to the forsworn Cranmer, themselves believed and taught others to believe the one same faith.

10

1887.  Bowen, Virg. Æneid, II. 195.

        Thus by lips forsworn of a cunning liar, the tale
Credence finds.

11

Proverbs.

12

c. 1330.  Amis and Amiloun, 1102.

        ‘And forsworn man shal neuer spede!
Certes, therfore Y can no rede:
  Allas! may be mi song.’

13

1591.  The Troublesome Raigne of King John (1611), 92.

        For once forsworne, and neuer after sound,
There’s no affiance after periury.

14

1619.  Dalton, Country Just. (1630), 297. The old saying is, Once forsworne, ever forlorne.

15

  absol.  c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., I. 132. Ða forsworenan mid forsworenum, on ðam bradan fire, butan ælcere geendunge forwurðað.

16

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 103. Hwet sculen ordlinghes don þa swicen and ta forsworene?

17

1597.  Daniel, Civ. Wars, III. xxx.

          Bewray they did their inward boiling Spite;
Each stirring others to revenge their Cause.
One says, he never should endure the Sight
Of that Forsworn, that wrongs both Land and Laws.

18

  2.  Falsely sworn.

19

1580.  Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 184. Plexirtus, mingling forsworne excuses with false-meant promises, gladly embraced the offer.

20

  Hence Forswornness. false swearing, perjury.

21

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 328. Cypmannum ȝedafenað þæt hi … lofian heora ðing buton laðre forsworennysse.

22

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 103. Stale and lesunge, and forsworenesse.

23

1828.  Webster, Forswornness, the state of being forsworn.

24