Forswear

Defined in 8 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889), Burrill (1850)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

In criminal law. To swear to a falsehood. This word has not the same meaning as "perjury." It does not, ex vi termini, signify a false swearing before an officer or court having authority to administer an oath, on an issue. A man may be forsworn by making a false oath before an incompetent tribunal, as well as before a lawful court. Hence, to say that a man is forsworn will or will not be slander, as the circumstances show that the oath was or was not taken before a lawful authority. Heard, Libel & S. §§ 16, 34; Cro. Car. 878; Lutw. 292; 1 Ro Ue, Abr. 39, pi. 7; Bac. Abr. "Slander" (B 3); Cro. Eliz. 609; 1 Johns. (N. Y.) 506; 2 Johns. (N. Y.) 10; 18 Johns. (N. Y.) 48, 80; 12 Mass. 496; 1 Hayw. (N. 0.) 116.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

To abjure; to swear falsely; to perjure one’s self.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

To swear to a falsehood. This word has not the same meaning as perjury. It does not, ex vi termini, signify a false swearing I)efore an ofiicer or court having authority to administer an oath, on an issue. A man may be forsworn by making a false oath before an Incompetent tribunal, as well as before a lawful court Hence, to say that a man is forsworn will or will not be slander, as the circumstances show that the oath was or was not taken before a lawful authority; Heard, Lib. & S. §§ 16, 34; Cro. Car. 378; Bacon, Abr. Slander (B, 3); Cro. Ellz. 609; Fisher v. Chandler, 1 Johns. (N. Y.) 505; Niven v. Munn, 13 Johns. (N. Y.) 48; Chapman v. Smith, 13 Johns. (N. Y.) 80.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

In criminni law. To make oath to that which the deponent knows to be untrue. This term is wider in its scope than "perjury," for the latter, as a technical term, includes the idca of the oath being taken before a competent court or officer, and relating to a material issue, which is not implied by the word "forswear." Fowle v. Robbins, 12 Mass. 501; Tomlinson v. Brittlebank, 4 Barn. & A. 632; Railway Co. v. McCurdy, 114 Pn. 554, 8 AH. 230, 60 Am. Rep. 363.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

To abjure, or renounce by oath; to swear falsely.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

In criminal law. To make oath to that which the deponent knows to be untrue. This term is wider in its seope than “perjury,” for the latter, as a technical term, includes the idea of the oath being taken before a competent court or officer, and relating to

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

To swear falsely. Does not necessarily import perjury, g. v. One may swear to what is not true before an of Qcer not qualified to administer an oath.*

A New Law Dictionary and Glossary

Alexander M. Burrill · 1850

[L. Lat. forisjurare.] To abjure, or renounce by oath. See Forisjurare. To swear falsely. But the word, in this sense, does not in itself import perjury. Tompkins, J., 2 Johns. R. 10, 11. Cro. Jac. 190, 436.