Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for swear on Thesaurus.com verb (used without object), swore or (Archaic ) sware; sworn; swear·ing. to make a solemn declaration or affirmation by some sacred being or object, as a deity or the Bible. to bind oneself by oath. to give evidence or make a statement on oath. to use profane oaths or language: Don't swear in front of the children. Show More
verb (used with object), swore or (Archaic ) sware; sworn; swear·ing. to declare, affirm, attest, etc., by swearing by a deity, some sacred object, etc. to affirm, assert, or say with solemn earnestness. to promise or undertake on oath or in a solemn manner; vow. to testify or state on oath: He swore it on the witness stand. to take (an oath), as in order to give solemnity or force to a declaration, promise, etc. to bind by an oath: to swear someone to secrecy. Show More
swear by , to name (a sacred being or thing) as one's witness or guarantee in swearing. Informal to have great confidence in; rely on: He swears by his dentist. to have certain knowledge of: I thought I saw him leaving, but I couldn't swear by it. swear in , to admit to office or service by administering an oath: A new president will be sworn in today. swear off , to promise or resolve to give up something, especially intoxicating beverages. swear out , to secure (a warrant for arrest) by making an accusation under oath. Show More
Origin of swear before 900; Middle English sweren, Old English swerian; cognate with
German schwören, Old Norse sverja; akin to
Gothic swaran to swear; see
answer Related forms swear·er , noun swear·ing·ly , adverb re·swear , verb, re·swore, re·sworn, re·swear·ing. un·der·swear·er , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for swear assert ,
depose ,
vow ,
testify ,
affirm ,
cuss ,
curse ,
covenant ,
attest ,
avow ,
state ,
vouch ,
maintain ,
promise ,
plight ,
trust ,
warrant ,
imprecate ,
blaspheme ,
flame Examples from the Web for swear Contemporary Examples of swear Nine new Republican senators will swear their oaths of office.
Or should you swear it off in the name of better cholesterol?
Opposing fans often taunt him, screaming, “Swear in a minute, he's going to swear in a minute.”
I swear we all went into this because we like people and most importantly the idea of healing you is very rewarding.
It just shocked me, I swear I would have a chauffeur if I could ever afford one.
Historical Examples of swear He was then required to swear by all the gods, and by the dreaded Erinnys, that he had spoken truly.
I've come to see you for two minutes; I swear I mean you no harm.
He tried to swear Edith and me to secrecy, but we refused to be sworn.
It don't do 'em any good, but just the same they all swear they're innocent.
Will you swear that the message that went with it had nothing to do with the Lenni-Lenape?'
British Dictionary definitions for swear verb swears , swearing , swore or sworn to declare or affirm (a statement) as true, esp by invoking a deity, etc, as witness (foll by by) to invoke (a deity, etc) by name as a witness or guarantee to an oath to trust implicitly; have complete confidence (in) (intr often foll by at ) to curse, blaspheme, or use swearwords (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to promise solemnly on oath; vow (tr) to assert or affirm with great emphasis or earnestness (intr) to give evidence or make any statement or solemn declaration on oath to take an oath in order to add force or solemnity to (a statement or declaration) swear blind informal to assert emphatically Show More
Derived Forms swearer , noun Word Origin for swear Old English swerian; related to Old Norse sverja, Gothic swaran, Old Frisian swera, German schwören
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for swear v. Old English swerian "take an oath" (class VI strong verb; past tense swor , past participle sworen ), from Proto-Germanic *swarjan- , (cf. Old Saxon swerian , Old Norse sverja , Danish sverge , Old Frisian swera , Middle Dutch swaren , Old High German swerien , German schwören , Gothic swaren "to swear"), from PIE root *swer- (1) "to speak, talk, say" (cf. Old Church Slavonic svara "quarrel"). Also related to the second element in answer . The secondary sense of "use bad language" (early 15c.) developed from the notion of "invoke sacred names." Swear-word is American English colloquial from 1883. Swear off "desist as with a vow" is from 1898.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
