perjure

perjure, forswear are comparable when they mean to violate one's oath or, when used reflexively, to make a false swearer of oneself.

In general use perjure is often employed less precisely than in law, where it is a technical term meaning to make a willfully false statement of fact or sometimes of an intention to do something, while under oath or under a solemn affirmation to tell the truth

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the judge was convinced that the witness had perjured himself

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In general use perjure often implies making a liar of oneself whether one is under oath or not

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when a native begins perjury he perjures himself thoroughly. He does not boggle over details— Kipling

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he thanked her, with as much enthusiasm as he could muster without actually perjuring himself— Archibald Marshall

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Forswear (see also ABJURE) often implies a violation of an oath, promise, or vow

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he swore a thing to me on Monday night, which he forswore on Tuesday morning— Shak.

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thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths—Mr 5:3 3

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but it may also suggest untruth or ill faith to something (as one's principles, one's beliefs, or the laws of one's country) as sacred as an oath

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Shelley indignantly refused to "forswear his principles" by accepting "a proposal so insultingly hateful"— Arnold

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Analogous words: *deceive, delude, mislead, beguile: *lie, prevaricate