mindmap root((收回)) abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning under oath: candidates for citizenship must ~ allegiance to any foreign power. renounce often equals abjure but may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown: willing to ~ his lifelong friends. forswear may add to abjure an implication of perjury or betrayal: cannot ~ my principles to win votes. recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught: the suspect ~ed his confession and professed his innocence. retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation: under threat of lawsuit, the paper ~ed the statement.