Word for 'promises not to'

[CynicalGabe]

I need to find a word that means ‘promises not to’. I’ve been using ‘forswears’, but I think that’s wrong.

[gigi]

“Swear off” and “forsake” are similar to forswear. Do you mean making the commitment to yourself or vowing publicly/to someone else?

[jayjay]

It is wrong. “Foreswear” means to break a promise.

[Colibri]

That is, in fact, one of the meanings of “forswear,” although not the only one.

From Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: for·swear
transitive senses
1 : to make a liar of (oneself) under or as if under oath
2 a : to reject or renounce under oath b : to renounce earnestly
3 : to deny under oath
intransitive senses : to swear falsely
synonym see ABJURE

There is more on usage under “abjure”

Main Entry: ab·jure
1 a : to renounce upon oath b : to reject solemnly
2 : to abstain from : AVOID <abjure extravagance>

• ab·jur·er noun
  synonyms ABJURE, RENOUNCE, FORSWEAR, RECANT, RETRACT mean to withdraw one’s word or professed belief. ABJURE implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath <abjured the errors of his former faith>. RENOUNCE often equals ABJURE but may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown <renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting>. FORSWEAR may add to ABJURE an implication of perjury or betrayal <I cannot forswear my principles>. RECANT stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught <if they recant they will be spared>. RETRACT applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation <the newspaper had to retract its allegations against the mayor>.

[OneCentStamp]

For any of us who played Dungeons and Dragons as youths, it’s impossible to read the word “abjure” or “abjuration” without a guilty smile.

[gigi]

That’s why I was asking about the context, since abjure sounds a lot more serious/formal/legal than “I’m swearing off chocolate”.

[Kimstu]

@jayjay

“Foreswear” means to break a promise.

No it doesn’t:

for·swear also fore·swear
v. for·swore, (fôr-swôr, fr-swr) for·sworn, (fôr-swôrn, fr-swrn) for·swear·ing, for·swears
v. tr.
To renounce or repudiate under oath.
To renounce seriously.
To disavow under oath; deny.
To make (oneself) guilty of perjury.

v. intr.
To swear falsely; commit perjury.

The meaning “commit perjury” is closest to “break a promise”, but isn’t really the same. In any case, the use of “forswear” as synonymous with “renounce” or “eschew”, as the OP has been using it, is definitely accepted.

Note that as a transitive verb, though, it requires a predicate object rather than an infinitive: you can say “I forswear going to the Eggs’N’Legs strip club for Sunday breakfast”, but not “I forswear to go to the Eggs’N’Legs strip club for Sunday breakfast”.

[casdave]

eschew

[Walloon]

forbear
intransitive senses
1 : HOLD BACK, ABSTAIN <can write with ease what I forbear to read — Flannery O’Connor>
2 : to control oneself when provoked : be patient

[OneCentStamp]

@casdave

eschew

Bless you!

[CynicalGabe]

Here is the context I’m using it in:

States Party to the Treaty forswear the transfer of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons technology to any secondary entity

and to forswear the development of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices.

and other similar instances.

[Colibri]

In that context I would probably use renounce.

Main Entry: re·nounce
transitive senses
1 : to give up, refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration <renounce his errors>
2 : to refuse to follow, obey, or recognize any further : REPUDIATE <renounce the authority of the church>
intransitive senses
1 : to make a renunciation
2 : to fail to follow suit in a card game

[Neur0mancer_1]

@casdave

eschew

Gesundheit.

[CynicalGabe]

@Colibri

In that context I would probably use renounce.

I must be more addle-minded than I thought. ‘Renounce’ never occurred to me. But for some reason, thinking of it in the context I’m using, it seems to have a negative connotation. I’m not sure why.

[Colibri]

@CynicalGabe

But for some reason, thinking of it in the context I’m using, it seems to have a negative connotation. I’m not sure why.

Perhaps it does, a little. But nuclear weapons are rarely considered to be a virtuous thing to have. It’s sort of like renouncing the use of force.

[CynicalGabe]

@Colibri

Perhaps it does, a little. But nuclear weapons are rarely considered to be a virtuous thing to have. It’s sort of like renouncing the use of force.

Yeah, one would think convincing countries to give up nuclear weapons or renounce their use would be easy. Not so much in my ‘Arms Control Simulation’ seminar. And we are more willing to compromise than the ‘real’ countries would be.

[Civil_Guy]

Renounce is good, I think. I realize this is not exactly to the point, but given the subject matter, I suspect another useful word for the proposed declaration is “condemn.”

[CynicalGabe]

@CynicalGabe

Yeah, one would think convincing countries to give up nuclear weapons or renounce their use would be easy. Not so much in my ‘Arms Control Simulation’ seminar. And we are more willing to compromise than the ‘real’ countries would be.

Forgot to include a :rolleyes: after the first sentance.